Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality is one of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities, governing 9 886 square kilometres of Free State with no district municipality above it.
The essentials
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| MDB code | MAN |
| Province | Free State |
| Population | 811 431 |
| Households | 229 426 |
| Area | 9 886 km2 |
| People per km2 | 82.1 |
| Council seats | 101 |
| Parties in council | 9 |
| Governing party | ANC |
| Executive mayor | Gregory Nthlatsi |
Money
In its most recent audited year Mangaung reported R10.7 billion in operating revenue against R11.9 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R1.2 billion. Its audit outcome was recorded as qualified audit.
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Financial health grade | E | Distressed |
| Score out of 100 | 34.8 | Ranked 7 of 8 metros |
| Operating margin | -10.8% | Operating costs exceeded revenue |
| Current ratio | 0.78:1 | Short-term bills exceed short-term assets |
| Months of cash | 9.7 | At least a month of operating cover |
| Irregular spending | 11.9% | Share of expenditure flagged by the Auditor-General |
Household services
| Service | Mangaung | All 8 metros average |
|---|---|---|
| Piped water inside dwelling | 47.3% | 71.6% |
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 71.0% | 85.6% |
| Electricity for lighting | 95.5% | 95.1% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 59.1% | 81.3% |
How it compares with the other metros
Mangaung ranks 7 of the eight metropolitan municipalities on financial health. Ranked against all 257 municipalities in the country, it sits in the lowest band.
| Metro | Grade | Score | Operating margin | Months of cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | B | 81.1 | 4.6% | 3.6 |
| eThekwini | C | 56.5 | -4.7% | 4.9 |
| Nelson Mandela Bay | D | 43.2 | -9.0% | 2.7 |
| City of Johannesburg | E | 38.9 | -3.4% | 1.5 |
| City of Ekurhuleni | E | 38.7 | -4.8% | -3.4 |
| Buffalo City | E | 38.6 | -18.1% | 5.2 |
| Mangaung | E | 34.8 | -10.8% | 9.7 |
| City of Tshwane | E | 27.8 | 2.3% | -4.8 |
What the figures suggest
Mangaung spent more on day-to-day operations than it collected, an operating deficit of R1.2 billion. A deficit has to be funded from somewhere, usually by delaying payments to creditors or drawing down cash. Cash cover exceeds three months, comfortably above the level National Treasury regards as adequate. Short-term obligations exceed short-term assets, which is a common early indicator of cash-flow strain.
Who runs it
The council has 101 seats across 9 parties, and is governed by ANC. The executive mayor is Gregory Nthlatsi of the ANC. All of these positions are contested at the local government elections on 4 November 2026.
In context
Mangaung is one of 23 municipalities in Free State. See the full Mangaung profile for contact details, the complete council, five years of audited figures and published documents, or put it beside another municipality in the comparison tool.
Common questions
How many people live in Mangaung?
Census 2022 recorded 811 431 residents across 9 886 square kilometres, which works out to 82.1 people per square kilometre.
What is Mangaung’s annual budget?
It reported R11.9 billion in operating expenditure and R10.7 billion in operating revenue in its most recent audited year.
Who is the mayor of Mangaung?
Gregory Nthlatsi of the ANC. The full council and senior management are listed on the Mangaung profile, which is updated as appointments change.
Figures on this page come from National Treasury, Statistics South Africa and the Auditor-General, as set out in the sources and methodology. Read the methodology