MunicipalitiesSA

Sol Plaatje Local Municipality

NC091 Local Northern Cape Governed by ANC

270 078 Population Census 2022
3 312 Square kilometres 81.5 per km2
68 314 Households
65 Council seats

Sol Plaatje Local Municipality is a local municipality in Northern Cape, covering 3 312 square kilometres. It falls within the Frances Baard District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Kimberley and Ritchie.

Census 2022 counted 270 078 residents, making it the 4th most populous of the 31 municipalities in Northern Cape and 89th of 257 nationally. That works out to 81.5 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 68 314 households, averaging 4.0 people each. 26.5% of residents are under 15 and 6.7% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 11.8% hold a higher education qualification and 4.1% have had no schooling.

The council has 65 seats across 8 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 32 seats (49.2%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Barbara Bartlett serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Thapelo Matlala 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, Sol Plaatje scores 42.9 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R2.9 billion in operating revenue against R3.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R182.8 million. At the last census, 66.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 91.7% used electricity for lighting and 83.1% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 32
  • DA 14
  • EFF 6
  • PA 4
  • SPSDF 3
  • VF PLUS 3
  • GOOD 2
  • ACDP 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Ms Barbara Bartlett ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Dipuo Peters ANC
Chief Whip Mr P van Wyk
Municipal Manager Mr Thapelo Matlala
Chief Financial Officer Ms Lehlohonolo Rapodile
Mayoral Committee Ms AN Boqo Chairperson: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Ms F Kruger Chairperson: Intergovernmental, International Relations
Mayoral Committee Mr J Makhamba Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Ms J Ndelaphi Chairperson: Rules
Mayoral Committee Mr L Farland Chairperson: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Ms M Meintjies Chairperson: Transport, Roads and Storm Water
Mayoral Committee Ms N Shushu Chairperson: IDP, Budget and PM
Mayoral Committee Ms Nomazizi Shwababa
Mayoral Committee Ms O Matshediso Chairperson: Finance
Mayoral Committee Mr OB Plaatjie Chairperson: Safety and Security
Mayoral Committee Mr P Mohapi Chairperson: SPELLUM
Mayoral Committee Mr P van Wyk Chairperson: Economic Development, Urban Renewal and Tourism
Mayoral Committee Mr R Morwe Chairperson: Human Settlement Services
Mayoral Committee Mr T Gomba Chairperson: Utility Trading Services
Senior Management Mr Khuza Bogacwi Executive Director: Community and Social Development Services
Senior Management Ms Nomonde Tyabashe Executive Director: Strategy, Economic Development and Planning
Senior Management Ms René Godsson Executive Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Walter Jood Executive Director: Infrastructure and Services
Communications Mr Sello Matsie
Communications Ms Thokozile Riet Acting Manager: Communications

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditQualified auditQualified auditQualified auditQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates687 339656 442610 991599 898571 075
Service charges1 449 0881 331 0931 182 6671 139 9301 053 050
Investment revenue21 84116 1168 5503 1242 835
Transfers recognised - operational313 411501 707264 657235 986260 426
Other own revenue430 140419 726356 037199 359176 950
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)2 901 8202 925 0842 422 9012 178 2972 064 336
Employee costs884 420894 291821 306772 777726 219
Remuneration of councillors33 79434 62632 22430 73730 260
Depreciation and amortisation96 03776 76071 83070 06063 881
Finance charges104 569110 764113 95572 90936 467
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases1 182 4401 057 341937 060872 964819 353
Transfers and subsidies2 8072 5262 5992 5462 528
Other expenditure780 530611 562617 008492 665487 650
Total Expenditure3 084 5972 787 8702 595 9822 314 6582 166 359
Surplus/(Deficit)-182 777137 215-173 081-136 361-102 023
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)574 062159 040108 149123 667112 562
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--3 38776 850-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions391 285296 255-61 54564 15710 539
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year391 285296 255-61 54564 15710 539

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure536 075176 438126 016127 081119 502
Transfers recognised - capital504 592147 35696 392112 818104 315
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds31 48429 08229 62414 26315 186
Total sources of capital funds536 075176 438126 016127 081119 502

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets2 957 7972 664 7132 304 4082 396 6151 893 023
Total non current assets2 257 0232 368 2942 265 5002 245 8572 097 228
Total current liabilities1 204 094918 8011 457 9661 249 270671 382
Total non current liabilities1 177 5121 121 824417 531437 303436 934
Community wealth/Equity2 833 2142 992 3832 694 4122 955 9002 881 935

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating517 921-516 316-808 676-584 35649 283
Net cash from (used) investing-529 312-159 367-126 016-127 081-116 394
Net cash from (used) financing568661 955---
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end102 90395 809-737 101-668 43029 423

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-29 261---
Irregular expenditure171 81364 620142 658198 183116 569
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure29 00340 734100 57564 64813 693

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population270 078255 041248 041

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1526.5%27.1%28.3%
Population 15 to 6466.8%64.9%66.2%
Population over 656.7%8.0%5.5%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)49.854.151

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females91.998.394

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.8%0.6%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a31.9
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a41.7

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling4.1%4.5%7.1%
Matricn/a32.829.2
Higher education11.8%11.5%10.0%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households68 31471 93960 296
Average household size43.54.1
Female headed householdsn/a42.441
Formal dwellings86.1%85.9%81.6%
Housing ownedn/a67.761.2

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage86.9%87.7%84.5%
Weekly refuse removal83.1%82.7%84.3%
Piped water inside dwelling66.6%60.2%61.9%
Electricity for lighting91.7%90.8%84.9%

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 provided72 79772 77171 94071 94071 940
Number of domestic households/delivery points72 41272 38671 55571 55571 555
Inside the yard69 10269 07671 55571 55571 555
Less than 200m from yard2 0702 070000
More than 200m from yard1 2401 240000
Domestic households with access to free basic service12 03312 26411 88114 64714 647

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided75 45873 46470 53668 48966 990
Domestic households with access to free basic service12 03312 26411 88114 64714 647

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided75 62775 30672 49072 01272 012
Flush toilet - public sewerage64 67264 64465 44563 43163 431
Flush toilet - septic tank1 8161 816342342342
Ventilated pit latrine1 2351 2351 2361 2351 235
Bucket system453453820820820
Other4 0533 7601 2492 8862 886
Domestic households with access to free basic service12 03312 26411 88114 64714 647

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided59 52659 52659 52659 52659 526
Domestic households with access to free basic service12 03312 26411 88114 64714 647

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)821 306772 777726 219652 922688 565
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)32 22430 73730 26030 36728 388
Total Employee Positions1 9261 9611 8101 7342 142
Total Vacant Employee Positions1651621073
Total Vacancy Percentage8.6%8.3%0.1%0.0%3.4%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666665
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5630100
Managerial Positions - by organogram6464646482
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram55000

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans