MunicipalitiesSA

Senqu Local Municipality

EC142 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

147 073 Population Census 2022
7 329 Square kilometres 20.1 per km2
48 914 Households
34 Council seats

Senqu Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 7 329 square kilometres. It falls within the Joe Gqabi District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Ekhephini (Barkly East), Lady Grey, Rhodes, Rossouw and Sterkspruit.

Census 2022 counted 147 073 residents, making it the 21st most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 135th of 257 nationally. That works out to 20.1 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 48 914 households, averaging 3.0 people each. 31.1% of residents are under 15 and 9.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.2% hold a higher education qualification and 10.7% have had no schooling.

The council has 34 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 25 seats (73.5%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Velile Victor Stokhwe serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr TA Mawonga 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, Senqu scores 82 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R358.5 million in operating revenue against R377.6 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R19.1 million. At the last census, 34.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.1% used electricity for lighting and 37.4% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 25
  • EFF 4
  • CIVIC 2
  • DA 1
  • PAC 1
  • UDM 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Velile Victor Stokhwe ANC
Speaker Mrs Ruth Nogoli Gwabini ANC
Chief Whip Mr Simon Mfisa
Municipal Manager Mr TA Mawonga
Chief Financial Officer Mr S Skampula Acting
Mayoral Committee Ms Bongeka Mbonjwa Development and Town Planning Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Luthando Stephen Ndakisa Portfolio Head: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Nolonwabo Ngendane Portfolio Head: Finance Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Nolufefe Mercy Ngendane Portfolio Head: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Simon Mfisa Portfolio Head: Corporate and Support Services
Senior Management Mr LBA Lekhu Director: Development and Town Planning
Senior Management Ms Nokulunga Nyezi Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Ranko Ruiters Director: Technical Services
Senior Management Ms Zimasa Koyana Director: Corporate Services
Communications Mrs Tanya Van Zyl Manager: Communications
Communications Ms Thandi Mthiya Communications Coordinator

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEClean auditClean auditClean auditFinancially unqualifiedClean audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates17 97718 78217 33115 49712 830
Service charges73 00565 29853 64357 10456 108
Investment revenue40 74443 06832 20917 80616 040
Transfers recognised - operational213 478199 773188 852179 409199 215
Other own revenue13 29417 92612 99110 2249 411
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)358 498344 847305 025280 040293 603
Employee costs142 902132 545119 944113 311101 723
Remuneration of councillors14 49813 91012 97612 76112 663
Depreciation and amortisation21 41518 79917 45817 47321 579
Finance charges6 1225 6465 3972 6602 197
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases74 99659 46655 63854 78853 053
Transfers and subsidies-364242-
Other expenditure117 66686 57779 90667 16353 543
Total Expenditure377 599316 979291 360268 198244 758
Surplus/(Deficit)-19 10127 86713 66411 84248 846
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)56 70943 31034 36624 57214 803
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions37 60771 17748 03036 41463 649
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year37 60771 17748 03036 41463 649

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure131 15281 97537 49736 05219 123
Transfers recognised - capital-----
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds----1 199
Total sources of capital funds----1 199

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets519 016546 377527 774485 890470 906
Total non current assets702 844611 851537 674513 251485 314
Total current liabilities100 38778 22169 85060 06464 911
Total non current liabilities62 78954 38150 67735 64332 579
Community wealth/Equity1 021 078954 449896 890867 021795 081

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating294 356375 091530 898435 997116 798
Net cash from (used) investing--(1 512)(1 198)(1 337)
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end801 083872 923987 399877 023466 888

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-2 050---
Irregular expenditure5 5185 77837 017120498
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure1 362611 88913555

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population147 073140 720134 150

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1531.1%36.9%34.0%
Population 15 to 6459.7%58.0%58.3%
Population over 659.2%5.1%7.7%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)67.672.471.4

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females86.885.788

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.9%1.1%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a35.5
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a43.6

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling10.7%10.7%14.5%
Matricn/a1913.2
Higher education6.2%5.3%5.3%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households48 91435 59738 046
Average household size343.5
Female headed householdsn/a48.450.5
Formal dwellings88.5%78.5%70.2%
Housing ownedn/a83.468.5

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage40.4%13.2%13.6%
Weekly refuse removal37.4%13.0%12.5%
Piped water inside dwelling34.6%8.1%8.7%
Electricity for lighting96.1%93.1%81.1%

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 provided52 24952 24951 74051 38049 152
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 73312 9606 54815 25949 152

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 provided10 09810 09810 09810 0988 001
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 4052 4181 7722 6268 001

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)119 944113 311101 72390 74483 339
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)12 97612 76112 66312 69712 244
Total Employee Positions303273273275278
Total Vacant Employee Positions1222513
Total Vacancy Percentage4.0%0.7%0.7%1.8%4.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610044
Managerial Positions - by organogram1819191818
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram32211

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans