MunicipalitiesSA

Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality

KZN216 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by ANC

362 134 Population Census 2022
1 487 Square kilometres 243.5 per km2
87 632 Households
71 Council seats

Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 1 487 square kilometres. It falls within the Ugu District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Hibberdene, Margate, Port Edward, Port Shepstone and Southbroom.

Census 2022 counted 362 134 residents, making it the 16th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 70th of 257 nationally. That works out to 243.5 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 87 632 households, averaging 4.1 people each. 27.0% of residents are under 15 and 8.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 11.9% hold a higher education qualification and 6.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 71 seats across 10 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 36 seats (50.7%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Zodwa P Mzindle serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Khethukuthula Joseph Zulu 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, Ray Nkonyeni scores 31.4 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.3 billion in operating revenue against R1.5 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R175.1 million. At the last census, 42.5% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 98.1% used electricity for lighting and 39.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 36
  • DA 14
  • IFP 8
  • EFF 7
  • MK 1
  • JEP 1
  • ACDP 1
  • ATM 1
  • AIC 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Zodwa P Mzindle ANC
Deputy Mayor Mr Sbusiso Godfrey Shange ANC
Speaker Mr Phumlani Gumbi ANC
Chief Whip Mr Teddy Thinta Hlophe
Municipal Manager Mr Khethukuthula Joseph Zulu
Chief Financial Officer Mr Vuyani Gqoboka
Mayoral Committee Mr Douglas Rawlins
Mayoral Committee Mr Leon Gabarde
Mayoral Committee Ms Lindiwe Ntanza
Mayoral Committee Ms Mosley Lubanyana
Mayoral Committee Ms Noxolo Mqadi
Mayoral Committee Ms Pinky Shange Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Ms Thuleleni Khanyase
Mayoral Committee Zamane Ndwalane
Senior Management Mr Dalisu Zulu HOD: Development Planning Services
Senior Management Mr Mduduzi Qwabe HOD: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr Mthandeni Ndwalane HOD: Community Services and Public Safety
Senior Management Mr Philani Khambule Manager: LED
Senior Management Mr Rodger Lubanyana HOD: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms Sthabile Gambushe Manager: Internal Audit
Senior Management Ms Zanele Ndabezitha Senior Manager: Strategic and Planning
Communications Mr Simon April Senior Manager: Mayoralty and Communications

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates532 725507 017486 256464 477447 331
Service charges258 644250 437213 390214 942195 945
Investment revenue11 06811 61410 8455 1823 513
Transfers recognised - operational356 798390 199285 417257 076288 551
Other own revenue158 331176 565131 835149 734135 993
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 317 5661 335 8311 127 7431 091 4111 071 334
Employee costs589 975480 606455 419438 981428 524
Remuneration of councillors36 95840 27529 56726 24928 366
Depreciation and amortisation118 013126 98394 90194 081100 268
Finance charges31 13523 73424 06220 74212 479
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases191 019155 651119 244136 545120 110
Transfers and subsidies18 97618 39416 07911 9066 635
Other expenditure506 571490 471443 149357 027307 205
Total Expenditure1 492 6461 336 1141 182 4231 085 5311 003 587
Surplus/(Deficit)-175 080-282-54 6805 88067 746
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)103 225122 399186 419158 94592 244
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--1 4906 5972 339
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-71 855122 117133 230171 422162 330
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-71 855122 117133 230171 422162 330

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure179 715264 338206 811188 144121 266
Transfers recognised - capital105 211160 163156 031141 09080 548
Borrowing3 620-6 4121 867-
Internally generated funds40 51544 39744 36927 04915 377
Total sources of capital funds149 346204 561206 811170 00795 926

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets203 508580 454686 492670 985534 032
Total non current assets2 395 0152 300 7452 156 8122 029 4131 882 418
Total current liabilities422 900339 279441 936345 698290 521
Total non current liabilities257 565243 390189 711191 699168 642
Community wealth/Equity1 984 8092 288 4352 204 7952 115 3461 906 948

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating226 535218 20647 036368 597863 289
Net cash from (used) investing-148 841-168 468-242 572-184 742-106 830
Net cash from (used) financing-20 745-29 114-31 987-35 816-15 910
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end123 354136 245-95 831291 8331 397 937

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure188 232----
Irregular expenditure5 120185 793387 2954 39331 850
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure1473435171

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population362 134348 533308 675

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.0%34.4%29.8%
Population 15 to 6464.2%61.0%63.2%
Population over 658.8%4.7%7.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)55.86458.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females90.491.288.9

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.6%2.8%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 schooling6.0%5.1%8.5%
Matricn/a35.726.7
Higher education11.9%9.9%9.8%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households87 63290 40983 644
Average household size4.13.93.7
Female headed householdsn/a48.347.7
Formal dwellings93.8%65.7%80.7%
Housing ownedn/a70.362.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage43.7%28.7%36.6%
Weekly refuse removal39.8%26.6%33.5%
Piped water inside dwelling42.5%29.9%35.9%
Electricity for lighting98.1%88.6%85.6%

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?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided61 69259 84857 83855 82854 008
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 7352 3872 3872 7603 287

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?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided36 15235 29435 29434 85934 859
Domestic households with access to free basic service493435435407588

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)455 419438 981428 524393 829399 045
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)29 56726 24928 36629 90927 360
Total Employee Positions1 4701 4861 0861 1431 564
Total Vacant Employee Positions35640556378
Total Vacancy Percentage24.2%27.3%0.5%0.5%24.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5688888
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5650020
Managerial Positions - by organogram4242464646
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram11541

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans