MunicipalitiesSA

Umdoni Local Municipality

KZN212 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by Hung Council

156 443 Population Census 2022
990 Square kilometres 158.0 per km2
33 084 Households
37 Council seats

Umdoni Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 990 square kilometres. It falls within the Ugu District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Pennington and Scottburgh/Umzinto North.

Census 2022 counted 156 443 residents, making it the 32nd most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 129th of 257 nationally. That works out to 158.0 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 33 084 households, averaging 4.7 people each. 26.1% of residents are under 15 and 9.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 7.2% hold a higher education qualification and 11.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 37 seats across 7 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 18 seats (48.6%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mrs Mbali Cele-Luthuli serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr DD Naidoo is acting 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, Umdoni scores 45.3 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R404.2 million in operating revenue against R429.8 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R25.6 million. At the last census, 41.5% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 90.8% used electricity for lighting and 37.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 18
  • DA 6
  • EFF 5
  • IFP 5
  • ABC 1
  • ALJAMA 1
  • AM4C 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mrs Mbali Cele-Luthuli ANC
Deputy Mayor Mr Phila Thabethe ANC
Speaker Mthandeni Mbutho ANC
Chief Whip n/a
Municipal Manager Mr DD Naidoo Acting
Chief Financial Officer Ms Thando Mketsu
Mayoral Committee Ms G Dlamini Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Ms Nonceba Dweba
Mayoral Committee Mr P Naidoo Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Mr R Maharaj Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Mr S Mdluli Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Mr Z Duma Exco Member
Senior Management Mr B Khanyile Manager: Public Participation
Senior Management Mr Bongani Ntsebeshe General Manager: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Khongi Mohlolonyane Acting General Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr M Khanyile Manager: Building Control
Senior Management Mr M Shangase General Manager: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr S Bhengu Manager: Environmental Services
Senior Management Mr S Cele Manager: Expenditure
Senior Management Mr S Hlongwane Manager: LED
Senior Management Mr S Nxele General Manager: Planning and Development
Senior Management Mr S Zamisa Manager: Housing
Senior Management Mr Sefiso Nxele General Manager: Planning and Development
Senior Management Mr T Ndlovu Manager: Internal Auditing
Communications Ms S Cele Manager: Communications and CCS

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedQualified auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates129 634120 535110 977103 81499 524
Service charges12 43111 15110 57510 22210 344
Investment revenue14 03714 60813 5137 1517 404
Transfers recognised - operational203 943195 692178 131167 033177 017
Other own revenue44 12333 19235 30329 15124 360
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)404 168375 178348 500317 371318 649
Employee costs162 243149 861145 634136 787134 045
Remuneration of councillors16 85316 33015 27114 68715 078
Depreciation and amortisation49 76446 058-8 085102 36542 378
Finance charges1 1781 76458816174
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases6 1457 0564 7124 09812 796
Transfers and subsidies3 3093 0216501 8683 213
Other expenditure190 323198 973208 335124 898166 428
Total Expenditure429 815423 064367 105384 719374 112
Surplus/(Deficit)-25 647-47 886-18 605-67 348-55 463
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)43 51938 87946 70542 47321 802
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)853 670258259-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions17 957-5 33728 358-24 616-33 660
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year17 957-5 33728 358-24 616-33 660

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure51 54051 00350 28146 04321 222
Transfers recognised - capital37 92126 92940 76536 67919 036
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds13 62022 9059 48712 6274 985
Total sources of capital funds51 54049 83450 25149 30624 020

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets257 287232 018254 036279 855282 443
Total non current assets665 766664 226651 757592 068644 276
Total current liabilities80 86571 61677 98980 77493 810
Total non current liabilities46 86847 26638 01740 40437 687
Community wealth/Equity795 320777 363789 786747 477791 030

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-118 300175 960267 856128 674329 270
Net cash from (used) investing-57 684-49 556---
Net cash from (used) financing-58-130-247--
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-29 643287 459459 875334 029523 627

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure26 4196 58227 86763 01716 930
Irregular expenditure303 66616 35616 91969 28991 641
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure2681112 26916 01015 397

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population156 443144 551130 413

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1526.1%36.4%31.2%
Population 15 to 6464.1%58.7%61.6%
Population over 659.8%4.9%7.2%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)56.170.262.3

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females90.792.990.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.8%2.3%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/an/a
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/an/a

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling11.4%10.6%15.8%
Matricn/a32.625.6
Higher education7.2%7.5%5.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households33 08435 43334 191
Average household size4.74.13.8
Female headed householdsn/a47.847.2
Formal dwellings75.3%63.0%56.6%
Housing ownedn/a69.456.8

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage43.7%23.5%32.4%
Weekly refuse removal37.7%20.8%35.6%
Piped water inside dwelling41.5%23.5%28.9%
Electricity for lighting90.8%80.2%76.3%

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?YesYesYesNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided4 2264 1834 1833 7893 789
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 7341 6061 7951 8502 173

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 provided11 23211 23211 23211 23211 232
Domestic households with access to free basic service850725818850912

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)145 634136 787134 045125 670103 293
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)15 27114 68715 07815 08714 488
Total Employee Positions547533516467446
Total Vacant Employee Positions114177518
Total Vacancy Percentage20.8%3.2%1.4%1.1%4.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600002
Managerial Positions - by organogram2433332828
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram20755

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans