MunicipalitiesSA

Umzimkhulu Local Municipality

KZN435 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by ANC

220 620 Population Census 2022
2 436 Square kilometres 90.6 per km2
40 064 Households
43 Council seats

Umzimkhulu Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 2 436 square kilometres. It falls within the Harry Gwala District Municipality. Its main centre is uMzimkhulu.

Census 2022 counted 220 620 residents, making it the 23rd most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 104th of 257 nationally. That works out to 90.6 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 40 064 households, averaging 5.5 people each. 36.4% of residents are under 15 and 6.3% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.4% hold a higher education qualification and 5.6% have had no schooling.

The council has 43 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 33 seats (76.7%). ANC governs the municipality. Mrs Jabulile Msiya serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Dr Andile Christopher Ngqoyiya 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, Umzimkhulu scores 58.8 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R312.3 million in operating revenue against R336.7 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R24.4 million. At the last census, 20.5% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.2% used electricity for lighting and 23.0% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 33
  • EFF 6
  • AIC 1
  • DA 1
  • IFP 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mrs Jabulile Msiya ANC
Deputy Mayor Mr Bhekamahlongwa Lukakayi ANC
Speaker Mr Gugulethu Mavuma ANC
Chief Whip Mr Xolani Tshazi
Municipal Manager Dr Andile Christopher Ngqoyiya
Chief Financial Officer Mrs Thembakazi Ngcemu
Mayoral Committee Khanyisile Mafuleka Chairperson: Infrastructure and Engineering Standing Committee
Mayoral Committee Mhlangabezi Didi Chairperson: Good Governance Standing Committee
Mayoral Committee Mrs Sindisiwe Nkala Chairperson: Community and Social Services Standing Committee
Mayoral Committee Ms Thandeka Machi Chairperson: Planning, Housing, Tourism and LED Standing Committee
Senior Management Ms Andiswa Mtshali Director: Infrastructure, Electrical and Engineering
Senior Management Mr Khalipha Nyamela Director: Corporate Services Department
Senior Management Ms Nosisa Luzulane Manager: Community and Social Service Department
Senior Management Ms Ntombifuthi Buthelezi Director: Planning, Housing, Tourism and LED
Communications Dr Jongilanga Willie Mgcina

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates18 8089 5979 4069 4039 484
Service charges3 2473 2413 0982 9842 891
Investment revenue16 32417 08013 3859 3738 715
Transfers recognised - operational266 652252 541238 677222 444248 651
Other own revenue7 3189 78912 4698 2855 188
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)312 349292 248277 034252 488274 928
Employee costs144 277131 426122 001113 991109 618
Remuneration of councillors19 62818 54017 43617 51616 267
Depreciation and amortisation56 66846 06633 29745 57753 049
Finance charges1 7341 16713 8472 265838
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases3 9215 1393 6171 5731 906
Transfers and subsidies525415-166614
Other expenditure109 974122 860119 86097 88977 310
Total Expenditure336 727325 613310 058278 976259 603
Surplus/(Deficit)-24 377-33 364-33 024-26 48715 326
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)85 32338 34049 28156 67278 618
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-63 7512 986--
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions60 94668 72619 24330 18593 944
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year60 94668 72619 24330 18593 944

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure98 09089 476151 79775 166104 892
Transfers recognised - capital74 13335 26395 97750 55465 870
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds23 95754 21252 83424 61239 022
Total sources of capital funds98 09089 476148 81175 166104 892

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets189 246120 035191 641184 407213 303
Total non current assets778 549792 970634 151639 526570 202
Total current liabilities44 86751 87242 83462 79212 153
Total non current liabilities13 25913 8735 1964 9699 500
Community wealth/Equity909 669847 261777 762752 991761 875

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating299 471245 338308 307257 179294 540
Net cash from (used) investing-53 580-137 623-31 103-120 159-136 074
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end351 885291 692459 930347 504747 193

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-----
Irregular expenditure108 2573 87319 07525 85821 386
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure---247-

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population220 620197 286180 302

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1536.4%42.7%40.8%
Population 15 to 6457.3%52.6%53.7%
Population over 656.3%4.7%5.5%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)74.49086.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females85.184.782.9

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.0%2.1%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a46.6
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a56.8

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling5.6%14.1%6.4%
Matricn/a17.915.3
Higher education6.4%5.9%4.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households40 06444 57142 907
Average household size5.54.44.2
Female headed householdsn/a58.460.3
Formal dwellings56.7%25.7%32.7%
Housing ownedn/a72.168.1

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage24.8%5.8%7.0%
Weekly refuse removal23.0%8.1%8.3%
Piped water inside dwelling20.5%6.4%5.6%
Electricity for lighting96.2%80.0%64.5%

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?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided14 25614 25614 25614 01613 076
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 8642 2152 1554 1069 728

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 provided1 4461 4461 4461 4468 699
Domestic households with access to free basic service255180180195404

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)122 001113 991109 618100 89490 975
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)17 43617 51616 26715 96413 997
Total Employee Positions667282264264257
Total Vacant Employee Positions37111
Total Vacancy Percentage0.5%2.5%0.4%0.4%0.4%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666665
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5623110
Managerial Positions - by organogram111111110
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00000

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans