MunicipalitiesSA

Umzimvubu Local Municipality

EC442 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

214 477 Population Census 2022
2 579 Square kilometres 83.2 per km2
51 698 Households
55 Council seats

Umzimvubu Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 2 579 square kilometres. It falls within the Alfred Nzo District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of eMaxesibeni (Mount Ayliff) and KwaBhaca (Mount Frere).

Census 2022 counted 214 477 residents, making it the 17th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 108th of 257 nationally. That works out to 83.2 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 51 698 households, averaging 4.1 people each. 33.2% of residents are under 15 and 7.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.2% hold a higher education qualification and 4.2% have had no schooling.

The council has 55 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 42 seats (76.4%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Zukiswa Ndevu serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Tobela Nota 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, Umzimvubu scores 80.2 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 R453.6 million in operating revenue against R465.3 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R11.7 million. At the last census, 24.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 89.9% used electricity for lighting and 24.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 42
  • EFF 6
  • ATM 2
  • DA 2
  • UDM 2
  • AIC 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Zukiswa Ndevu ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr NG Mdzinwa ANC
Chief Whip Ms Nofikile Florida Ngonyolo
Municipal Manager Mr Tobela Nota
Chief Financial Officer Mr Khaluwe Mehlomakhulu
Mayoral Committee Mr I Nodali Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr M Magobane Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Ms N Sonyabashi Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Citizen and Community Services
Mayoral Committee Ms NA Garane Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Infrastructure and Planning
Mayoral Committee Ms NC Mnyayiza Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Ms NL Nkula Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Ms NV Nomnganga Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Ms T Sokhanyile Exco Member / Portfolio Head: SP and Communication
Mayoral Committee Ms XG Jona Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Local Economic Development
Senior Management Mr Azola Makanda Manager: Local Economic Development
Senior Management Ms KP Dlamini-Tshazi Manager: Community Services
Senior Management Mr LJ Moleko Manager: Infrastructure and Planning
Communications Mrs Nokhanyo Zembe Senior Manager

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEClean auditClean auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates64 66546 52246 98250 08617 733
Service charges1 3601 2971 2631 2171 210
Investment revenue10 50810 1269 2414 3233 882
Transfers recognised - operational298 217284 562283 558247 598280 218
Other own revenue78 84056 48920 09648 49716 198
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)453 591398 995361 140351 719319 242
Employee costs98 66791 90989 97783 17679 539
Remuneration of councillors24 53923 55822 74320 74520 077
Depreciation and amortisation90 409110 31477 50082 322119 335
Finance charges2 1192 3101 038724320
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases6 4726 50110 0166 8906 134
Transfers and subsidies22 45518 70025 00711 7875 527
Other expenditure220 610236 243176 071183 474118 636
Total Expenditure465 271489 536402 352389 118349 568
Surplus/(Deficit)-11 680-90 541-41 212-37 399-30 326
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)90 77477 43473 10962 219103 620
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-12 560---
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions79 094-54731 89724 82173 294
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year79 094-54731 89724 82173 294

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure126 310162 560142 238196 188175 366
Transfers recognised - capital80 41967 67176 34077 66267 982
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds45 53248 30631 180102 52774 098
Total sources of capital funds125 951115 977107 519180 188142 080

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets157 657120 205134 745147 723163 720
Total non current assets1 079 8751 054 7231 007 823947 737973 921
Total current liabilities92 472109 79465 65747 01152 637
Total non current liabilities12 43011 6549 15210 6788 140
Community wealth/Equity1 132 6291 069 7041 067 621990 2781 076 864

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating335 844-141 266142 051874 9271 111 375
Net cash from (used) investing-151 250-179 265-121 401-155 529-182 810
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end250 807-241 426124 196808 928888 352

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-62411 030--
Irregular expenditure7 21724 32326 841--
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure5 864451-86461

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population214 477199 620191 775

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1533.2%36.6%38.3%
Population 15 to 6459.3%57.0%55.0%
Population over 657.5%6.4%6.7%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)68.775.481.9

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females88.485.784.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.1%0.9%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 schooling4.2%4.4%8.0%
Matricn/a16.913.6
Higher education8.2%5.9%6.3%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households51 69851 53046 931
Average household size4.13.94.1
Female headed householdsn/a56.258.7
Formal dwellings73.5%45.2%37.7%
Housing ownedn/a78.461.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage26.7%5.1%6.8%
Weekly refuse removal24.8%4.3%7.1%
Piped water inside dwelling24.7%3.3%4.4%
Electricity for lighting89.9%64.5%45.2%

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 provided34 81434 81434 45434 45433 683
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 1361 1381 1382 9782 978

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 provided2 8962 8962 0612 0612 061
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)89 97783 17679 53973 62066 269
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)22 74320 74520 07718 00917 398
Total Employee Positions233189196219221
Total Vacant Employee Positions61117
Total Vacancy Percentage2.6%0.5%0.5%0.5%3.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677777
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600000
Managerial Positions - by organogram2323232323
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram01112

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans