MunicipalitiesSA

Thabazimbi Local Municipality

LIM361 Local Limpopo Governed by Hung Council and Coalition led

65 047 Population Census 2022
11 190 Square kilometres 5.8 per km2
26 832 Households
23 Council seats Coalition governed

Thabazimbi Local Municipality is a local municipality in Limpopo, covering 11 190 square kilometres. It falls within the Waterberg District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Amandelbult Mine Town and Thabazimbi.

Census 2022 counted 65 047 residents, making it the 26th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 207th of 257 nationally. That works out to 5.8 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 26 832 households, averaging 2.4 people each. 20.7% of residents are under 15 and 5.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.6% hold a higher education qualification and 4.8% have had no schooling.

The council has 23 seats across 7 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 10 seats (43.5%). It is governed by a coalition: Hung Council and Coalition led. Mr Tumisang Pilane serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr GC Letsoalo 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, Thabazimbi scores 38.6 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 R568.8 million in operating revenue against R604.4 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R35.6 million. At the last census, 59.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 89.3% used electricity for lighting and 69.2% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 10
  • DA 4
  • EFF 3
  • LP 2
  • VF PLUS 2
  • MKP 1
  • TRA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Tumisang Pilane ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Dingaan Sebata ANC
Chief Whip Ms Lettah Ndiweni
Municipal Manager Mr GC Letsoalo
Chief Financial Officer Mr Thaveshan Chetty
Mayoral Committee A Tshukudu Chairperson: Infrastructure Development
Mayoral Committee CS Sikwane Chairperson: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Frik Erasmus Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee JEA Swanepoel Chairperson: Finance
Mayoral Committee M Magetse Chairperson: Rules and Ethics Committee
Mayoral Committee M Tyhalindwendwe Chairperson: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee P Sello Chairperson: Planning and Economic Development Committee
Mayoral Committee ZS Ndhlovu Chairperson: Women's Commission
Senior Management Mr MZ Namate Director: Community Services
Senior Management Ms Rabelani Tshiswaise Acting Director: Planning and Economic Development
Senior Management Mr S Mogapi Director: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr T Sibiya Acting Director: Corporate Services
Communications Mr Joshua Motsomane Manager: Communications

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates152 42679 612100 13090 44180 805
Service charges185 038171 178152 314179 603162 635
Investment revenue975596429502399
Transfers recognised - operational157 567126 712130 850117 750120 315
Other own revenue72 76364 91349 05040 05331 957
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)568 768443 010432 772428 348396 112
Employee costs166 959166 232162 238151 882135 737
Remuneration of councillors10 23610 0959 9599 3969 354
Depreciation and amortisation33 49428 58919 36937 09031 433
Finance charges20 28922 17825 20319 94430 408
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases159 902117 928100 696126 560120 260
Transfers and subsidies-----
Other expenditure213 509267 438137 121129 251117 912
Total Expenditure604 388612 460454 587474 123445 103
Surplus/(Deficit)-35 620-169 449-21 814-45 775-48 991
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)28 77848 24766 87936 19591 276
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)38 077--5 541-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions31 235-121 20245 065-4 03842 285
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year31 235-121 20245 065-4 03842 285

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure40 19382146549 344102 691
Transfers recognised - capital40 193821-62836 923103 248
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds-----
Total sources of capital funds40 193821-62836 923103 248

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets762 581366 474319 066245 744246 665
Total non current assets823 118809 423811 748848 325840 142
Total current liabilities682 809589 739650 748593 992648 808
Total non current liabilities319 456313 967101 98197 67247 104
Community wealth/Equity633 889389 166379 312402 405402 241

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating121 105247 656107 48966 916233 137
Net cash from (used) investing-14 664-47 540-56 047-30 368-92 514
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end117 771202 30653 573399 192140 885

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure90 20259 98526 324646 03940 651
Irregular expenditure174 90822 65940 5728 27360 102
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure19 3806 09014 326143 45212 048

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population65 04796 23285 234

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1520.7%24.3%21.1%
Population 15 to 6473.7%73.5%76.4%
Population over 655.6%2.2%2.4%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)35.73630.8

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females115.9146.9141.1

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-2.6%2.8%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a20.6
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a26.9

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling4.8%3.7%8.8%
Matricn/a31.826.1
Higher education9.6%6.2%7.6%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households26 83235 46325 079
Average household size2.42.73.4
Female headed householdsn/a22.724.7
Formal dwellings83.6%68.0%70.7%
Housing ownedn/a47.124.4

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage77.4%57.9%67.9%
Weekly refuse removal69.2%41.7%60.4%
Piped water inside dwelling59.7%38.0%47.3%
Electricity for lighting89.3%74.9%76.8%

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 provided36 11635 53827 60526 56826 568
Number of domestic households/delivery points35 12734 54926 61625 61825 618
Inside the yard31 07031 07026 61625 61825 618
Less than 200m from yard3 4793 479000
More than 200m from yard5780000
Domestic households with access to free basic service601591591270270

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided36 56335 46335 46327 22127 221
Domestic households with access to free basic service601591591270270

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided35 70935 04727 93327 58327 583
Flush toilet - public sewerage29 45328 79125 61825 61825 618
Flush toilet - septic tank1 2871 287000
Ventilated pit latrine3 6033 6031 5271 2351 235
Bucket system00000
Other578578000
Domestic households with access to free basic service601591591270270

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided24 36924 36924 36923 36523 365
Domestic households with access to free basic service601591591270270

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)162 238151 882135 737124 464118 089
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)9 9599 3969 3548 8979 548
Total Employee Positions504444353413408
Total Vacant Employee Positions23210367873
Total Vacancy Percentage46.0%23.2%1.7%18.9%17.9%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666665
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5632212
Managerial Positions - by organogram3331313231
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram76422

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans