MunicipalitiesSA

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality

MP313 Local Mpumalanga Governed by Hung Council

242 031 Population Census 2022
3 976 Square kilometres 60.9 per km2
80 052 Households
58 Council seats

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality is a local municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 3 976 square kilometres. It falls within the Nkangala District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Hendrina, Middelburg, Pullens Hope and Rietkuil.

Census 2022 counted 242 031 residents, making it the 13th most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 95th of 257 nationally. That works out to 60.9 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 80 052 households, averaging 3.0 people each. 23.6% of residents are under 15 and 5.3% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 10.9% hold a higher education qualification and 6.5% have had no schooling.

The council has 58 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 21 seats (36.2%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr PM Masilela serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Mandla Mnguni 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, Steve Tshwete scores 26.8 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R2.6 billion in operating revenue against R2.8 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R210.7 million. At the last census, 72.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 93.4% used electricity for lighting and 86.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 21
  • DA 17
  • EFF 9
  • MHRF 7
  • VF PLUS 3
  • INDEPENDENT 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr PM Masilela ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Mathunyane Silape Thato
Chief Whip Mr Mashiloane Casious Sihle
Municipal Manager Mr Mandla Mnguni
Chief Financial Officer Ms Puselletso Mildred Melato
Mayoral Committee Mrs Bathobile Cloudeth Shabangu Arts, Culture and Environmental Health
Mayoral Committee Mrs Grace Nankie Baneng Mathibela Financial Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Hennie Nieman Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Mr Letsatsi Ernest Nkwana Spatial Development and Human Settlement
Mayoral Committee Ms Manakedi Caroline Mphego Corporate and Support Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Marumo Jim Sekgwele Infrastructure Development Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Zandile Joseph Ngubeni Community Safety
Senior Management Ms Elizabeth Tshabalala Executive Director: Community Services
Senior Management Ms Gaobotse Mogorosi Assistant Director: Performance Management System
Senior Management Mr Johannes Silas Director: Development and Strategic Support
Senior Management Ms Lee-Ann Moses Chief Audit Executive
Senior Management Ms Lindiwe Silolo Director: Infrastructure Services
Senior Management Mr Michael Nkosi Assistant Director: Local Economic Development
Senior Management Mr Ntakgolo Tjia Chief Risk Officer
Senior Management Mr Thabo Mokoena Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Thabo Tsheko Acting: Chief Information Officer
Senior Management Ms Tlami Nkambule Assistant Director: Integrated Development Planning
Communications Ms Lerato Kgomo Spokesperson

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates666 874499 538474 243445 311428 629
Service charges1 282 8841 166 5461 033 8571 016 058962 465
Investment revenue6 34712 76717 91319 72919 906
Transfers recognised - operational358 328340 629294 426255 020264 769
Other own revenue236 280149 049136 644112 766134 914
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)2 550 7132 168 5291 957 0831 848 8831 810 683
Employee costs851 622850 985752 357680 802649 857
Remuneration of councillors31 09130 24428 53827 02223 201
Depreciation and amortisation280 328280 714215 943218 020209 086
Finance charges102 449109 02787 60861 64737 630
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases950 772764 435692 440675 830619 614
Transfers and subsidies2 1612 0965 49823 2932 342
Other expenditure542 996534 335423 508415 165330 647
Total Expenditure2 761 4202 571 8362 205 8912 101 7791 872 378
Surplus/(Deficit)-210 707-403 307-248 809-252 896-61 695
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)123 325180 584272 653185 959157 934
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)21 09247 25137 23212 91041 689
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-66 290-175 47261 077-54 027137 928
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-66 290-175 47261 077-54 027137 928

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure237 661295 756657 391558 793696 754
Transfers recognised - capital123 325180 584272 653186 300195 605
Borrowing-19 986193 143186 524238 932
Internally generated funds93 09747 254162 534172 794261 282
Total sources of capital funds216 422247 824628 329545 618695 819

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets401 502439 814568 722747 876655 637
Total non current assets8 567 9988 643 1898 634 2377 550 5207 211 232
Total current liabilities919 263980 711695 324647 753496 097
Total non current liabilities1 086 2341 071 9211 094 576928 896595 154
Community wealth/Equity6 943 4477 030 3717 413 0596 712 7456 775 618

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating43 617644 3681 017 9931 004 0381 344 779
Net cash from (used) investing-203 805-216 890-606 391-501 156-616 710
Net cash from (used) financing-39 289-3 225173 959118 239-25 550
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-168 454542 907954 422965 697817 595

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure108 28795 377--107 014
Irregular expenditure7 86051 006289 907--
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure3317 035--71

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population242 031278 749229 831

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1523.6%23.9%25.0%
Population 15 to 6471.1%72.4%70.7%
Population over 655.3%3.7%4.3%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)40.738.141.5

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females98.8110.1108.1

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.5%4.4%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a19.7
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a27.1

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling6.5%5.8%7.4%
Matricn/a39.335
Higher education10.9%12.9%13.2%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households80 05286 71364 966
Average household size33.23.5
Female headed householdsn/a30.329.4
Formal dwellings90.5%81.9%83.0%
Housing ownedn/a53.244.5

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage87.1%79.4%83.8%
Weekly refuse removal86.7%77.4%84.7%
Piped water inside dwelling72.3%55.6%62.2%
Electricity for lighting93.4%90.6%90.8%

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 provided51 57851 57845 28645 28645 286
Number of domestic households/delivery points48 81748 81743 21143 21143 211
Inside the yard48 81748 81743 21143 21143 211
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service6 59410 1778 63115 08514 651

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided43 45342 23447 89547 89546 037
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 26010 5229 65616 16616 618

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided48 20247 74748 34548 34546 681
Flush toilet - public sewerage45 89745 44233 33833 33833 338
Flush toilet - septic tank00000
Ventilated pit latrine0012 56412 5640
Bucket system00000
Other000010 900
Domestic households with access to free basic service8 34312 61011 17918 22818 240

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided46 38445 89146 41246 41246 367
Domestic households with access to free basic service8 14812 34510 88617 88617 861

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)752 357680 802649 857584 093535 930
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)28 53827 02223 20123 56222 748
Total Employee Positions1 7421 8451 6431 6541 662
Total Vacant Employee Positions13811765142
Total Vacancy Percentage7.9%6.3%0.4%0.3%8.5%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5611011
Managerial Positions - by organogram6159565850
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram98640

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans