MunicipalitiesSA

Swellendam Local Municipality

WC034 Local Western Cape Governed by DA/VF PLUS Coalition

47 114 Population Census 2022
3 835 Square kilometres 12.3 per km2
15 477 Households
11 Council seats Coalition governed

Swellendam Local Municipality is a local municipality in Western Cape, covering 3 835 square kilometres. It falls within the Overberg District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Barrydale, Buffeljagsrivier, Infanta, Malagas, Suurbraak and Swellendam.

Census 2022 counted 47 114 residents, making it the 26th most populous of the 30 municipalities in Western Cape and 227th of 257 nationally. That works out to 12.3 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 15 477 households, averaging 3.0 people each. 21.8% of residents are under 15 and 8.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 11.2% hold a higher education qualification and 3.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 11 seats across 4 parties, with DA holding the largest share at 5 seats (45.5%). It is governed by a coalition: DA/VF PLUS Coalition. Mr Francois du Rand serves as executive mayor (DA), and Ms Anneleen Vorster 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, Swellendam scores 71.3 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 R555.5 million in operating revenue against R576.4 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R20.8 million. At the last census, 86.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.4% used electricity for lighting and 79.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • DA 5
  • ANC 4
  • PA 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Francois du Rand DA
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Jasper du Toit Loubser VF+
Municipal Manager Ms Anneleen Vorster
Chief Financial Officer Ms Elmari Wassermann
Mayoral Committee Ms Agnes Bokwana Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Mrs Amanda Swart
Mayoral Committee Mr Dawid Julius
Mayoral Committee Mr Donovan Julius
Mayoral Committee Ms Elna Lamprecht Mayco
Mayoral Committee Mr Frans Kees Mayco
Mayoral Committee Ms Gladys Libazi
Mayoral Committee Mr Isaac Ferguson
Mayoral Committee Mr Julian Matthysen
Senior Management Ms Anneleen Vorster Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Keith Stuurman Director: Community Services
Communications Ms L Minies

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates61 75756 64150 11645 86042 797
Service charges203 436177 611153 006150 295137 905
Investment revenue16 74912 5817 6814 2943 513
Transfers recognised - operational64 82962 24255 07263 57549 834
Other own revenue208 761139 17269 63363 18460 683
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)555 533448 247335 508327 209294 733
Employee costs128 300118 864108 484113 898108 007
Remuneration of councillors5 8295 8235 6075 6165 319
Depreciation and amortisation43 03127 34016 16114 3988 635
Finance charges9 90310 0728 8474 5474 771
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases134 801114 90796 07993 48079 136
Transfers and subsidies1 0731 1025304461 193
Other expenditure253 426154 13891 99392 33098 225
Total Expenditure576 363432 246327 702324 716305 286
Surplus/(Deficit)-20 83016 0017 8062 493-10 553
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)17 83540 73447 88381 64718 452
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)5 6224 689933-14
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions2 62761 42456 62384 1407 912
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year2 62761 42456 62384 1407 912

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure51 68953 01064 85595 09521 392
Transfers recognised - capital17 79445 85548 10233-
Borrowing7 2773 2297 211--
Internally generated funds20 9961 2024 654--
Total sources of capital funds46 06750 28759 96733-

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets268 460260 180167 970154 631141 494
Total non current assets559 901558 907526 707473 404391 145
Total current liabilities121 981130 56686 35098 39385 733
Total non current liabilities142 649127 416119 446104 379101 385
Community wealth/Equity563 731561 104488 880425 263345 521

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating406 447103 912195 436401 203259 912
Net cash from (used) investing-73 658-45 774-59 533729664
Net cash from (used) financing4 087-5 952--
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end515 391179 911255 180511 714348 776

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure39 3469781 0189 2543 844
Irregular expenditure133 36063 53435 11954 61819 836
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure3-248--

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population47 11440 21135 916

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1521.8%27.8%26.1%
Population 15 to 6470.0%65.8%66.6%
Population over 658.2%6.4%7.3%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)42.85250.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females99100.399.3

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.6%2.6%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a11.4
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a15

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling3.0%3.7%5.4%
Matricn/a3220.7
Higher education11.2%7.1%9.7%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households15 47711 67810 139
Average household size33.43.5
Female headed householdsn/a28.329.2
Formal dwellings90.9%96.0%88.3%
Housing ownedn/a65.956.9

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage96.0%93.9%85.7%
Weekly refuse removal79.8%86.5%74.2%
Piped water inside dwelling86.6%86.3%78.9%
Electricity for lighting95.4%96.9%94.0%

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 provided7 1676 8346 8336 5566 458
Number of domestic households/delivery points7 1676 8346 8336 5566 458
Inside the yard6 9636 6306 6296 3526 254
Less than 200m from yard204204204204204
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 3392 3442 3792 2912 217

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided9 2919 2919 1037 5856 697
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 3392 3442 3792 2912 217

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided7 9107 6457 6397 4667 466
Flush toilet - public sewerage6 3406 0916 0915 9155 915
Flush toilet - septic tank491475469436436
Ventilated pit latrine000294294
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 3392 3442 3792 2912 217

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided6 5246 5246 3566 3426 342
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 3392 3442 3792 2912 217

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)108 484113 898108 00797 69185 604
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)5 6075 6165 3195 2925 103
Total Employee Positions318302280294296
Total Vacant Employee Positions503411623
Total Vacancy Percentage15.7%11.3%0.4%5.4%7.8%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610000
Managerial Positions - by organogram1818141416
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram52111

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans