Ngwathe Local Municipality
134 962
Population
Census 2022
7 055
Square kilometres
19.1 per km2
36 793
Households
37
Council seats
Ngwathe Local Municipality is a local municipality in Free State, covering 7 055 square kilometres. It falls within the Fezile Dabi District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Edenville, Heilbron, Koppies, Parys and Vredefort.
Census 2022 counted 134 962 residents, making it the 9th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 145th of 257 nationally. That works out to 19.1 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 36 793 households, averaging 3.7 people each. 25.9% of residents are under 15 and 9.9% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.9% hold a higher education qualification and 5.6% have had no schooling.
The council has 37 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 21 seats (56.8%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Victoria de Beer Mthombeni serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Dr Futhuli Mothamaha 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, Ngwathe scores 13.9 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of F, described as critical. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R900.2 million in operating revenue against R1.4 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R495.5 million. At the last census, 53.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.7% used electricity for lighting and 88.1% had refuse removed weekly.
Council and management
Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections
- ANC 21 56.8%
- DA 7 18.9%
- EFF 5 13.5%
- VF PLUS 3 8.1%
- NGWATHERA 1 2.7%
Office bearers
Mayor
Ms Victoria de Beer Mthombeni
ANC
Deputy Mayor
n/a
Speaker
Ms Neheng Paulina Mopedi
ANC
Chief Whip
Mr Leponesa Petrus Sochiva
Municipal Manager
Dr Futhuli Mothamaha
Chief Financial Officer
Mr Serame Phetoane
Mayoral Committee
Mr Andele Abram Jantjie
Mayoral Committee
Mr Arnold Mattheus Schoonwinkel
Mayoral Committee
Mr Ben Thabo Mokoena
Mayoral Committee
Ephaus Sipho Nthoesane
Mayoral Committee
Mr Isaac Malebo Magashule
Mayoral Committee
Mr Jerry Mbuyiselo Tyumbu
Mayoral Committee
Mr Mahlomola Piet Motaung
Mayoral Committee
Ms Makoena Mirriam Rantsaile
Mayoral Committee
Ms Marie La Cock
Mayoral Committee
Ms Marinda Matthysen-Engelbrecht
Mayoral Committee
Mr Modise Joshua Moroenyane
Mayoral Committee
Mr Mohau Thabiso Joseph Mosepedi
Mayoral Committee
Ms Nomakhaza Suzan Moloi
Mayoral Committee
Mr Ntutu Alfred Sehume
Mayoral Committee
Mr Seabata Jan Segoba
Mayoral Committee
Ms Sellwane Lydia Moseme
Senior Management
Ms M Makibinyane
Director: Community Services
Senior Management
Ms P Morokolo
Director: Technical Services
Senior Management
Dr S Dintsi
Director: Local Economic Development and Planning
Senior Management
Mr T Motshoikha
Director: Corporate Services
Communications
Mr Steve Naale
Finances
National Treasury, audited outcomes
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT OUTCOME | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit |
Financial performance
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property rates | 108 441 | 103 832 | 96 969 | 104 441 | 96 614 |
| Service charges | 422 953 | 510 179 | 372 370 | 408 594 | 368 156 |
| Investment revenue | 6 203 | 6 537 | 2 836 | 1 407 | 1 131 |
| Transfers recognised - operational | 254 095 | 266 938 | 247 197 | 233 097 | 258 184 |
| Other own revenue | 108 549 | 186 345 | 80 129 | 51 926 | 65 176 |
| Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions) | 900 241 | 1 073 832 | 799 500 | 799 466 | 789 260 |
| Employee costs | 325 974 | 282 497 | 259 780 | 259 537 | 249 031 |
| Remuneration of councillors | 18 347 | 17 782 | 16 679 | 15 589 | 15 493 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 77 157 | 59 212 | 72 427 | 88 492 | 59 428 |
| Finance charges | 117 198 | 105 714 | 78 303 | 36 709 | 34 941 |
| Inventory consumed and bulk purchases | 454 496 | 420 634 | 379 460 | 408 813 | 333 392 |
| Transfers and subsidies | 180 | 176 | 178 | 150 | 165 |
| Other expenditure | 402 415 | 344 455 | 273 174 | 310 574 | 247 811 |
| Total Expenditure | 1 395 767 | 1 230 470 | 1 080 001 | 1 119 864 | 940 260 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | -495 527 | -156 638 | -280 501 | -320 398 | -151 000 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations) | 139 992 | 81 539 | 54 737 | 100 845 | 89 993 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions | -355 534 | -75 100 | -225 764 | -219 553 | -61 007 |
| Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | -355 534 | -75 100 | -225 764 | -219 553 | -61 007 |
Capital expenditure & funds sources
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditure | 143 539 | 115 828 | 8 421 | 84 221 | 548 |
| Transfers recognised - capital | 121 721 | 95 693 | 3 205 | 83 196 | 548 |
| Borrowing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Internally generated funds | 21 818 | 11 836 | 5 215 | 1 025 | - |
| Total sources of capital funds | 143 539 | 107 529 | 8 421 | 84 221 | 548 |
Financial position
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total current assets | 607 402 | 563 997 | 803 656 | 667 261 | 634 393 |
| Total non current assets | 1 992 896 | 1 929 182 | 1 795 186 | 1 596 708 | 1 831 853 |
| Total current liabilities | 3 230 494 | 2 797 837 | 2 790 683 | 2 442 100 | 2 117 125 |
| Total non current liabilities | - | - | - | - | 41 173 |
| Community wealth/Equity | -560 980 | -134 841 | -191 841 | -178 587 | 234 001 |
Cash flows
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash from (used) operating | -272 994 | -257 071 | -144 260 | -1 703 265 | -141 645 |
| Net cash from (used) investing | -143 600 | -10 196 | -2 934 | -70 921 | -548 |
| Net cash from (used) financing | - | - | - | (1 173) | 38 036 |
| Cash/cash equivalents at the year end | -353 593 | -220 553 | -141 298 | -1 718 648 | -83 214 |
Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised expenditure | 107 620 | 335 274 | 294 010 | 350 557 | 99 115 |
| Irregular expenditure | 8 351 | 59 683 | 31 006 | 34 442 | - |
| Fruitless & wasteful expenditure | 104 724 | 94 430 | 78 450 | 86 875 | 30 573 |
Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1
People
Statistics South Africa, Census
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 134 962 | 118 907 | 120 520 |
Age structure
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population under 15 | 25.9% | 27.7% | 30.1% |
| Population 15 to 64 | 64.2% | 63.8% | 62.4% |
| Population over 65 | 9.9% | 8.5% | 7.5% |
Dependency ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 (15-64) | 55.8 | 56.7 | 60.2 |
Sex ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males per 100 females | 88.8 | 90.3 | 91 |
Population growth
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per annum | 1.1% | -0.3% | n/a |
Labour market
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | n/a | n/a | 35.2 |
| Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 | n/a | n/a | 45.1 |
Education (aged 20 +)
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No schooling | 5.6% | 4.8% | 8.5% |
| Matric | n/a | 28.3 | 25.8 |
| Higher education | 8.9% | 7.0% | 6.2% |
Household dynamics
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 36 793 | 40 910 | 37 099 |
| Average household size | 3.7 | 2.9 | 3.2 |
| Female headed households | n/a | 44.1 | 41.8 |
| Formal dwellings | 91.2% | 85.9% | 81.3% |
| Housing owned | n/a | 76.9 | 66.3 |
Household services
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 89.2% | 81.0% | 77.0% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 88.1% | 84.4% | 81.9% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 53.6% | 30.5% | 44.7% |
| Electricity for lighting | 95.7% | 94.3% | 92.0% |
Service delivery
National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities
Water
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 46 503 | 46 144 | 46 144 | 46 144 | 45 021 |
| Number of domestic households/delivery points | 45 175 | 44 816 | 44 816 | 44 816 | 43 693 |
| Inside the yard | 45 175 | 44 816 | 44 816 | 44 816 | 42 196 |
| Less than 200m from yard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 497 |
| More than 200m from yard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 12 260 | 11 342 | 11 347 | 11 347 | 9 862 |
Electricity
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 43 379 | 43 379 | 42 788 | 42 788 | 42 788 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 12 260 | 11 342 | 11 347 | 11 347 | 9 862 |
Sewerage and sanitation
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 47 544 | 46 458 | 46 458 | 46 458 | 29 969 |
| Flush toilet - public sewerage | 38 632 | 37 546 | 37 546 | 37 546 | 24 561 |
| Flush toilet - septic tank | 314 | 314 | 314 | 314 | 314 |
| Ventilated pit latrine | 1 488 | 1 488 | 1 488 | 1 488 | 2 032 |
| Bucket system | 5 782 | 5 782 | 5 782 | 5 782 | 1 734 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 12 260 | 11 342 | 11 347 | 11 347 | 9 862 |
Solid waste services
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 45 873 | 44 398 | 44 389 | 44 389 | 31 485 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 12 260 | 11 342 | 11 347 | 11 347 | 9 862 |
Staffing
National Treasury
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Costs (R’000) | 259 780 | 259 537 | 249 031 | 236 874 | 216 081 |
| Remuneration of councillors (R’000) | 16 679 | 15 589 | 15 493 | 15 524 | 14 874 |
| Total Employee Positions | 740 | 742 | 748 | 738 | 702 |
| Total Vacant Employee Positions | 49 | 49 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Total Vacancy Percentage | 6.6% | 6.6% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Managerial Positions - by organogram | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 41 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Published documents
Hosted by National Treasury