MunicipalitiesSA

Newcastle Local Municipality

KZN252 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by Hung Council

507 710 Population Census 2022
1 856 Square kilometres 273.6 per km2
116 763 Households
67 Council seats

Newcastle Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 1 856 square kilometres. It falls within the Amajuba District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Charlestown and Newcastle.

Census 2022 counted 507 710 residents, making it the 13th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 53rd of 257 nationally. That works out to 273.6 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 116 763 households, averaging 4.3 people each. 27.8% of residents are under 15 and 5.9% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 13.1% hold a higher education qualification and 4.6% have had no schooling.

The council has 67 seats across 10 parties, with IFP holding the largest share at 23 seats (34.3%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr David Xolani Dube serves as executive mayor (IFP), and Mr ZW Mcineka 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, Newcastle scores 44 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R2.7 billion in operating revenue against R3.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R467.2 million. At the last census, 58.2% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.6% used electricity for lighting and 73.2% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • IFP 23
  • ANC 17
  • EFF 8
  • TSSA 6
  • DA 6
  • ACTIONSA 3
  • NFP 1
  • PA 1
  • ATM 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr David Xolani Dube IFP
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Thengi Zulu IFP
Chief Whip Mr Zwe Nxumalo
Municipal Manager Mr ZW Mcineka
Chief Financial Officer Mrs ZP Kubheka
Mayoral Committee AP Meiring Development Planning and Human Settlements
Mayoral Committee CB Kubheka Chairperson: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee DX Dube Finance
Mayoral Committee F Cassim Deputy Chairperson: DPHS
Mayoral Committee LC Sithebe Deputy Chairperson: Community Services
Mayoral Committee ME Hlatshwayo Chairperson: Community Services
Mayoral Committee SA Yende Deputy Chairperson: Finance
Mayoral Committee SM Thwala Technical Services
Mayoral Committee VG Zondo Deputy Chairperson: Community Services
Senior Management BN Mnguni Strategic Executive Director: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr GB Dlamini Strategic Executive Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mrs NP Khathidei Strategic Executive Director: Development Planning and Human Settlements
Senior Management Dr PD Thabethe Strategic Executive Director: Corporate Services
Communications Mthandeni Myende Acting Head: Communications

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates436 896400 069376 279353 327342 534
Service charges1 422 0601 284 3361 150 4801 128 2331 013 748
Investment revenue7 1553 2125 4074 5163 068
Transfers recognised - operational690 240580 675539 962476 213575 515
Other own revenue113 020137 65931 71387 60949 495
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)2 669 3732 405 9522 103 8402 049 8971 984 360
Employee costs746 209680 846677 071664 912546 540
Remuneration of councillors30 49231 78826 98323 74225 615
Depreciation and amortisation392 870365 910347 534348 818351 084
Finance charges133 91985 92676 05764 41264 980
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases847 071738 388694 073655 649564 498
Transfers and subsidies-----
Other expenditure985 9981 039 914819 592671 943732 467
Total Expenditure3 136 5592 942 7722 641 3102 429 4762 285 185
Surplus/(Deficit)-467 186-536 820-537 470-379 579-300 825
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)123 345216 133179 476135 585103 667
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-343 841-320 687-357 994-243 994-197 157
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate17 671----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-326 170-320 687-357 994-243 994-197 157

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure492 390273 91041 788141 40828 078
Transfers recognised - capital201 340256 200104 525129 7529 874
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds291 04917 731-62 79511 6567 960
Total sources of capital funds492 390273 93141 729141 40817 834

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets1 289 969943 439937 618981 311879 973
Total non current assets7 652 7957 862 3067 479 0206 633 1506 949 515
Total current liabilities1 731 6681 194 7901 080 562952 609868 192
Total non current liabilities537 132541 893549 367603 332619 396
Community wealth/Equity6 673 9647 069 0626 786 7106 058 5196 341 900

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating1 946 969-185 6481 166 6381 248 246-1 832 817
Net cash from (used) investing-135 507-204 422-149 918-150 216-132 332
Net cash from (used) financing-38 459----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end1 799 042-363 6851 029 0941 143 077-1 986 714

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure467 794173 940202 379220 192-
Irregular expenditure81 58080 25270 567111 39631 645
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure71 57724 04113 03520 7314 361

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population507 710389 117363 236

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.8%33.9%32.2%
Population 15 to 6466.3%62.5%63.3%
Population over 655.9%3.6%4.5%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)50.860.158

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females92.191.890.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum3.3%1.6%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a37.4
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a49

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling4.6%5.8%7.1%
Matricn/a38.733.1
Higher education13.1%10.2%10.7%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households116 76390 34784 271
Average household size4.34.34.3
Female headed householdsn/a48.247.5
Formal dwellings96.0%89.1%91.1%
Housing ownedn/a62.952

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage75.6%62.7%57.8%
Weekly refuse removal73.2%65.5%71.0%
Piped water inside dwelling58.2%43.4%50.0%
Electricity for lighting96.6%94.8%87.2%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided123 829123 829122 44397 20596 825
Number of domestic households/delivery points121 334121 334119 92690 72790 347
Inside the yard87 85287 85286 44486 44486 064
Less than 200m from yard25 91525 91525 9154 2834 283
More than 200m from yard7 5677 5677 56700
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 1036 9666 8266 8267 484

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided97 74294 34094 34094 34092 949
Domestic households with access to free basic service8 4318 1175 3375 1077 484

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided90 34390 34390 34387 66185 439
Flush toilet - public sewerage62 09062 09062 09061 57561 575
Flush toilet - septic tank7327327327329
Ventilated pit latrine26 34226 34226 34224 42623 466
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 3686 2706 4336 4337 484

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided48 93348 93361 21261 21261 212
Domestic households with access to free basic service8 0797 9158 0648 0647 484

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)677 071664 912546 540559 524574 671
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)26 98323 74225 61523 99221 967
Total Employee Positions1 4071 1251 1211 1571 423
Total Vacant Employee Positions101530
Total Vacancy Percentage0.1%0.0%1.3%0.3%0.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610030
Managerial Positions - by organogram5044442921
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram001500

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans