MunicipalitiesSA

Waterberg District Municipality

DC36 District Limpopo Governed by n/a

762 862 Population Census 2022
44 914 Square kilometres 17.0 per km2
248 526 Households
28 Council seats Coalition governed

Waterberg District Municipality is a district municipality in Limpopo, covering 44 914 square kilometres. It coordinates 5 local municipalities: Bela Bela, Lephalale, Modimolle-Mookgopong, Mogalakwena and Thabazimbi. It takes in 9 recognised towns and settlements, among them Amandelbult Mine Town, Bela-Bela, Lephalale, Modimolle, Mokopane (Potgietersrus), Mookgophong (Naboomspruit), Pienaarsrivier, Thabazimbi.

Census 2022 counted 762 862 residents, making it the 6th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 37th of 257 nationally. That works out to 17.0 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 248 526 households, averaging 3.1 people each. 27.9% of residents are under 15 and 7.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.7% hold a higher education qualification and 8.3% have had no schooling.

The council has 28 seats across 3 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 21 seats (75.0%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Mr MJ Maeko serves as executive mayor (ANC), and P Raputsoa 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, Waterberg scores 45.5 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R165.4 million in operating revenue against R189.8 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R24.4 million. At the last census, 44.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 92.9% used electricity for lighting and 52.6% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 21
  • EFF 6
  • TRA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr MJ Maeko ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms Grace Marakalal ANC
Chief Whip B Monare
Municipal Manager P Raputsoa
Chief Financial Officer T Tebjani
Mayoral Committee KB Mangakeng MMC: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee MH Ledwaba MMC: Social Development
Mayoral Committee MJ Gumede MMC: Community Services
Mayoral Committee MJ Maeko MMC: Planning and Economic Development
Mayoral Committee NS Morumudi MMC: Transformation and Administration
Mayoral Committee PS Mabe MPAC Chairperson
Mayoral Committee SR Masipa MMC: Infrastructure and Development
Mayoral Committee MS Taueatsoala MMC: Special Projects
Senior Management B Mthombene Acting Manager: Infrastructure and Development
Senior Management M Tsebe Manager: Corporate Support and Shared Services
Senior Management MZ Namate Manager: Social Development and Shared Services
Senior Management P Makondo Executive Assistant
Senior Management VS Kubheka Manager: Planning and Economic Development
Communications Kabelo Mosito Divisional Manager: Communications, IGR and Protocol

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 rates-----
Service charges-----
Investment revenue2 2843 2713 0292 7183 517
Transfers recognised - operational160 288154 295149 388143 766146 353
Other own revenue2 8312 1972 5201 5221 419
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)165 402159 763154 937148 006151 289
Employee costs126 415123 997116 764115 753107 463
Remuneration of councillors9 3749 3489 0088 3058 421
Depreciation and amortisation6 7315 8954 6757 2187 894
Finance charges-----
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases---2243 815
Transfers and subsidies-----
Other expenditure47 24141 71741 23243 99239 228
Total Expenditure189 761180 957171 680175 491166 821
Surplus/(Deficit)-24 359-21 194-16 743-27 486-15 532
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)-----
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-24 359-21 194-16 743-27 486-15 532
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-24 359-21 194-16 743-27 486-15 532

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure604501 1221 1744 468
Transfers recognised - capital-----
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds-4501 0006734 468
Total sources of capital funds-4501 0006734 468

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets3 6279 12916 92232 79052 326
Total non current assets66 42374 08578 68181 11886 487
Total current liabilities41 16826 37921 70425 21325 314
Total non current liabilities23 02825 48422 81122 41021 340
Community wealth/Equity5 85431 35050 49065 53392 052

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-7 281-8 073-12 442-19 46011 136
Net cash from (used) investing-1--324-109-624
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-1 8924 70015 34728 164131 126

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-----
Irregular expenditure----1 466
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure476----

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population762 862745 758679 336

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.9%34.4%29.9%
Population 15 to 6464.5%60.5%64.3%
Population over 657.5%5.1%5.8%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)54.965.455.5

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females96.7104.7102.1

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.1%2.1%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a28.1
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a35.5

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling8.3%7.1%12.4%
Matricn/a27.623.2
Higher education9.7%9.0%8.5%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households248 526211 471179 858
Average household size3.13.53.8
Female headed householdsn/a40.942.7
Formal dwellings91.6%85.0%87.0%
Housing ownedn/a63.647.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage57.6%43.8%47.8%
Weekly refuse removal52.6%44.4%44.2%
Piped water inside dwelling44.7%24.4%30.7%
Electricity for lighting92.9%86.1%86.7%

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?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

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?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)116 764115 753107 463102 40191 782
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)9 0088 3058 4218 2398 262
Total Employee Positions214221180192191
Total Vacant Employee Positions3602144
Total Vacancy Percentage16.8%0.0%1.1%7.3%2.1%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5620223
Managerial Positions - by organogram2418181817
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram10001

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans