MunicipalitiesSA

Xhariep District Municipality

DC16 District Free State Governed by n/a

131 901 Population Census 2022
34 250 Square kilometres 3.9 per km2
36 064 Households
5 Council seats Coalition governed

Xhariep District Municipality is a district municipality in Free State, covering 34 250 square kilometres. It coordinates 3 local municipalities: Kopanong, Letsemeng and Mohokare. It takes in 18 recognised towns and settlements, among them Bethulie, Edenburg, Fauresmith, Gariep Dam, Jacobsdal, Jagersfontein, Koffiefontein, Luckhoff.

Census 2022 counted 131 901 residents, making it the 10th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 151st of 257 nationally. That works out to 3.9 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 36 064 households, averaging 3.7 people each. 28.0% of residents are under 15 and 7.7% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.9% hold a higher education qualification and 10.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 5 seats across 2 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 4 seats (80.0%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Ms NI Mehlomakulu serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms LY Moletsane 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, Xhariep scores 42.6 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 R68.8 million in operating revenue against R76.0 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R7.1 million. At the last census, 46.4% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 93.7% used electricity for lighting and 67.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 4
  • DA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms NI Mehlomakulu ANC
Speaker Ms AM Shasha ANC
Chief Whip Mrs NJ Garekoe
Municipal Manager Ms LY Moletsane
Chief Financial Officer Mr Vincent Litabe
Mayoral Committee Mr MA Lebaka MMC: Finance
Mayoral Committee Ms NJ Garekoe MMC: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr TD Mochechepa MMC: Planning and Social Development
Senior Management Mr M Sejane SCM Manager
Senior Management Mr MA Jafta Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms N Manyana Expenditure and Payroll Manager
Senior Management Mr Oupa Abraham Kale Director: Planning and Social Development
Senior Management Mr S Majenge Manager: LED
Senior Management Mr T Lebaka Human Resources and Labour Relations
Senior Management Mr T Matshidiso Budget, Assets and Technical Support Manager
Senior Management Mr T Phatsoane Chairperson: MPAC
Communications n/a

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 rates-----
Service charges-----
Investment revenue1 5511 414476493652
Transfers recognised - operational64 57965 72066 71652 21461 352
Other own revenue2 7012 0535 2344 152705
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)68 83169 18672 42656 85862 708
Employee costs48 84847 23746 04944 74446 331
Remuneration of councillors5 2525 4674 7214 2614 701
Depreciation and amortisation1 0911 2051 6061 7731 960
Finance charges544630735347167
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases35-159142103
Transfers and subsidies-51736-4970
Other expenditure20 19545 41315 83618 80715 586
Total Expenditure75 96199 96969 14270 02568 918
Surplus/(Deficit)-7 130-30 7833 284-13 168-6 210
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)-23 972---
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-7 130-6 8113 284-13 168-6 210
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-7 130-6 8113 284-13 168-6 210

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure-21 9772 4812 2801 420408
Transfers recognised - capital-22 2151 9911 991--
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds1033942881 420408
Total sources of capital funds-22 1122 3862 2801 420408

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets42 2766 7383 3633 33812 825
Total non current assets8 5778 4579 46110 45411 216
Total current liabilities69 97225 57016 59120 92018 815
Total non current liabilities2 6512 5042 5542 4772 285
Community wealth/Equity-14 640-6 067-9 6043 5649 150

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating141 153136 517104 37583 749-
Net cash from (used) investing-----
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end98 116146 888114 74694 12010 371

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure16 07312 6706 72430 8521 861
Irregular expenditure1154 1681 2963 6373 697
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure1672563982 12075

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population131 901125 884121 945

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1528.0%26.5%30.4%
Population 15 to 6464.3%66.7%63.3%
Population over 657.7%6.8%6.3%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)55.549.957.9

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females92.198.597.7

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.8%0.7%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 schooling10.4%10.6%14.1%
Matricn/a26.218.7
Higher education6.9%5.6%5.7%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households36 06444 76737 678
Average household size3.72.83.2
Female headed householdsn/a37.637.8
Formal dwellings91.0%89.1%87.6%
Housing ownedn/a61.749.9

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage89.1%79.2%78.8%
Weekly refuse removal67.7%67.7%70.1%
Piped water inside dwelling46.4%34.7%44.9%
Electricity for lighting93.7%94.2%91.8%

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)46 04944 74446 33143 70441 322
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)4 7214 2614 7014 6644 808
Total Employee Positions7882827678
Total Vacant Employee Positions78510
Total Vacancy Percentage9.0%9.8%6.1%1.3%0.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5644444
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5623010
Managerial Positions - by organogram1919191917
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram55500

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans