MunicipalitiesSA

OR Tambo District Municipality

DC15 District Eastern Cape Governed by n/a

1 501 702 Population Census 2022
12 141 Square kilometres 123.7 per km2
313 536 Households
23 Council seats Coalition governed

OR Tambo District Municipality is a district municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 12 141 square kilometres. It coordinates 5 local municipalities: Ngquza Hills, King Sabata Dalindyebo, Kumkani Mhlontlo, Nyandeni and Port St Johns. It takes in 9 recognised towns and settlements, among them Flagstaff, Libode, Lusikisiki, Mqanduli, Mthatha (Umtata), Ngqeleni, Port St Johns, Qumbu.

Census 2022 counted 1 501 702 residents, making it the 1st most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 10th of 257 nationally. That works out to 123.7 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 313 536 households, averaging 4.8 people each. 35.1% of residents are under 15 and 6.1% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.4% hold a higher education qualification and 12.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 23 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 18 seats (78.3%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Mr Mesuli Ngqondwana serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr BP Mase 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, O R Tambo scores 50.6 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 R1.8 billion in operating revenue against R2.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R298.4 million. At the last census, 29.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.1% used electricity for lighting and 29.4% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 18
  • EFF 2
  • UDM 2
  • ATM 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Mesuli Ngqondwana ANC
Deputy Mayor Mr Thandekile Sabisa ANC
Speaker Ms Nonkoliso Ngqongwa ANC
Chief Whip Ms Nomvuzo Mlombile-Cingo
Municipal Manager Mr BP Mase
Chief Financial Officer n/a
Mayoral Committee Mr Gcinumzi Tshoto MMC: IGR and Planning
Mayoral Committee Ms Mandisa Giyose MMC: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Mlamli Ndabeni MMC: Rural Economic Development and Planning
Mayoral Committee Mr Mvuyisi Mbhede MMC: Rural Economic Development and Planning
Mayoral Committee Ms Nokuthula Mtuku MMC: Special Programmes and Social Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Nontyatyambo Gcingca MMC: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Siphokazi Njisane MMC: Human Settlements
Mayoral Committee Ms Thandi Mdledle MMC: Budget and Treasury and Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr B Matomela Director: Strategic Planning and Governance
Senior Management Ms DS Gqiba Director: Infrastructure Water and Sanitation Services
Senior Management Mr L Nombasa Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr LL Madzidzela Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr S Ndakisa Director: Budget and Treasury
Senior Management Dr V Nkohla Rural Economic Development and Planning
Communications Ms Zimkhita Macingwane Head: Communications

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified auditQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates-----
Service charges313 587314 065288 341303 753300 164
Investment revenue84 19262 03640 00410 79015 462
Transfers recognised - operational1 199 8401 131 0761 065 212961 6901 097 043
Other own revenue198 38546 12443 47056 71727 741
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 796 0041 553 3021 437 0271 332 9501 440 410
Employee costs715 849671 546712 311734 154767 593
Remuneration of councillors22 89321 14619 57219 05619 653
Depreciation and amortisation425 646550 558357 615264 613355 519
Finance charges4 8313 3664 6165 523544
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases14 9912 60424 97820 31962 411
Transfers and subsidies71 25466 16759 00761 343103 642
Other expenditure838 905679 808433 118465 609440 784
Total Expenditure2 094 3691 995 1941 611 2171 570 6181 750 147
Surplus/(Deficit)-298 366-441 892-174 190-237 668-309 737
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)1 109 255909 458764 378561 566637 189
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions810 890467 566590 188323 898327 452
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year810 890467 566590 188323 898327 452

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure125 900139 36113 6763 38971 274
Transfers recognised - capital102 391110 5933 2845041 273
Borrowing3 032----
Internally generated funds20 47828 76810 3922 88570 001
Total sources of capital funds125 900139 36113 6763 38971 274

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets1 265 140949 3021 072 567821 031872 008
Total non current assets9 023 7518 454 9307 863 3237 252 4297 151 811
Total current liabilities905 745890 7591 155 0751 185 3631 266 888
Total non current liabilities3 7772 446-1 638-3 308-7 427
Community wealth/Equity8 870 8738 407 1417 782 4536 891 4046 764 358

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating329 679-20 042-127 22489 219264 875
Net cash from (used) investing-120 898-138 076-15 306-3 139284 866
Net cash from (used) financing1 024----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end677 841306 037241 272483 482872 697

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure547 275264 98571 35238 1891 197
Irregular expenditure47 088181 738172 449124 019249 860
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure8 7443 74114 96256 2978 251

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population1 501 7021 457 3841 366 039

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1535.1%38.9%39.0%
Population 15 to 6458.8%56.5%55.4%
Population over 656.1%4.5%5.6%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)7076.980.5

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females89.287.485.7

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.9%1.5%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/an/a
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/an/a

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling12.0%13.9%17.3%
Matricn/a1815.1
Higher education8.4%6.4%6.7%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households313 536314 080298 530
Average household size4.84.64.6
Female headed householdsn/a57.157.9
Formal dwellings77.2%43.6%43.4%
Housing ownedn/a78.961.5

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage31.2%9.4%11.6%
Weekly refuse removal29.4%9.0%10.7%
Piped water inside dwelling29.3%6.4%8.9%
Electricity for lighting94.1%83.6%70.1%

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 provided142 230140 341138 662113 350178 733
Number of domestic households/delivery points139 826137 937136 258110 946176 329
Inside the yard81 14881 14881 14859 60259 602
Less than 200m from yard42 05742 05740 37840 378110 421
More than 200m from yard16 62114 73214 73210 9666 306
Domestic households with access to free basic service107 957107 957107 957107 957107 957

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?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided319 355316 951288 301245 176241 572
Flush toilet - public sewerage60 52758 12322 93122 93122 931
Flush toilet - septic tank001 7451 7451 745
Ventilated pit latrine256 424256 424261 221218 096214 492
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service107 957107 957107 957107 957107 957

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)712 311734 154767 593673 563539 216
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)19 57219 05619 65320 62121 628
Total Employee Positions1 3911 3911 3911 3911 321
Total Vacant Employee Positions000047
Total Vacancy Percentage0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%3.6%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S561111111112
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600002
Managerial Positions - by organogram6868686821
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00005

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans