MunicipalitiesSA

Namakwa District Municipality

DC6 District Northern Cape Governed by n/a

148 935 Population Census 2022
126 836 Square kilometres 1.2 per km2
33 947 Households
7 Council seats Coalition governed

Namakwa District Municipality is a district municipality in Northern Cape, covering 126 836 square kilometres. It coordinates 6 local municipalities: Hantam, Kamiesberg, Karoo Hoogland, Khai-Ma, Nama Khoi and Richtersveld. It takes in 32 recognised towns and settlements, among them Aggeneys, Alexander Bay, Brandvlei, Bulletrap, Calvinia, Carolusberg, Concordia, Eksteensfontein.

Census 2022 counted 148 935 residents, making it the 6th most populous of the 31 municipalities in Northern Cape and 133rd of 257 nationally. That works out to 1.2 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 33 947 households, averaging 4.4 people each. 23.1% of residents are under 15 and 9.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.2% hold a higher education qualification and 3.1% have had no schooling.

The council has 7 seats across 3 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 4 seats (57.1%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Mr Mervin Cloete serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Sydney Adams is municipal manager.

On this site’s financial health measure, which weighs the Auditor-General’s opinion alongside operating margin, liquidity, cash cover and irregular spending, Namakwa scores 71.8 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R85.7 million in operating revenue against R81.2 million in expenditure, an operating surplus of R4.5 million. At the last census, 76.8% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.7% used electricity for lighting and 83.1% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 4
  • DA 2
  • NCM 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Mervin Cloete ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Gillian Pieters ANC
Chief Whip Mr Brandon Brandt
Municipal Manager Mr Sydney Adams
Chief Financial Officer Mr Quinton Cloete
Mayoral Committee Mr B Brandt Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Ms J Wilschut Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Mr M Cloete Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Ms P van Heerden Municipal Health Services
Mayoral Committee Mr R Cloete Municipal Public Accounts Committee
Senior Management Mr Gareth Cloete Corporate and Community Services
Communications Ms Jodine Cloete

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedClean auditClean auditClean auditClean audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates-----
Service charges-----
Investment revenue2 4012 0861 165616543
Transfers recognised - operational76 64668 89565 08760 40860 631
Other own revenue6 6343 7397 8124 6353 228
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)85 68174 72074 06565 65964 402
Employee costs45 39644 82943 41339 67043 098
Remuneration of councillors5 0114 8294 4653 9723 597
Depreciation and amortisation2 3501 3961 1611 4381 580
Finance charges9541666823
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases308506301137289
Transfers and subsidies775786840436706
Other expenditure27 25917 45520 03019 63118 476
Total Expenditure81 19469 84370 27665 35267 770
Surplus/(Deficit)4 4864 8773 788308-3 368
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)--211--
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--728--
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions4 4864 8774 727308-3 368
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year4 4864 8774 727308-3 368

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure8713 2641 4666091 095
Transfers recognised - capital8027818358-
Borrowing--332--
Internally generated funds7912 9862225511 095
Total sources of capital funds8713 2647386091 095

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets22 94217 33913 99610 4289 891
Total non current assets11 98113 3456 2816 1146 945
Total current liabilities7 2346 8457 2857 4254 740
Total non current liabilities20 45321 09420 06820 56523 746
Community wealth/Equity7 8602 746-13 719-13 298-11 910

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating56 75546 46428 56540 35795 032
Net cash from (used) investing-871-3 264-1 466-609-1 095
Net cash from (used) financing47248332-86
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end70 26152 75036 57844 56098 211

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure775283712 0436 294
Irregular expenditure11 0681 9372 3641132
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure2470-8

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population148 935115 488115 842

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1523.1%22.5%25.8%
Population 15 to 6467.4%68.0%66.1%
Population over 659.5%9.5%8.1%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)48.347.151.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females96.4101.5101.2

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.4%-0.1%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a20.1
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a25.4

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling3.1%4.4%6.6%
Matricn/a24.218.8
Higher education6.2%8.0%7.1%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households33 94737 66933 856
Average household size4.43.13.4
Female headed householdsn/a37.636.6
Formal dwellings95.3%95.2%93.8%
Housing ownedn/a72.660.1

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage83.8%67.9%70.8%
Weekly refuse removal83.1%81.7%80.1%
Piped water inside dwelling76.8%70.5%63.3%
Electricity for lighting96.7%88.4%86.5%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Number of domestic households/delivery points00000
Inside the yard00000
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Flush toilet - public sewerage00000
Flush toilet - septic tank00000
Ventilated pit latrine00000
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)43 41339 67043 09835 40139 942
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)4 4653 9723 5973 2023 119
Total Employee Positions93969093119
Total Vacant Employee Positions1391127
Total Vacancy Percentage14.0%9.4%1.1%1.1%22.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655544
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610100
Managerial Positions - by organogram88877
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram20011

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans