MunicipalitiesSA

AbaQulusi Local Municipality

KZN263 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by Hung Council

247 263 Population Census 2022
4 314 Square kilometres 57.3 per km2
50 633 Households
45 Council seats

AbaQulusi Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 4 314 square kilometres. It falls within the Zululand District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Louwsburg and Vryheid.

Census 2022 counted 247 263 residents, making it the 18th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 94th of 257 nationally. That works out to 57.3 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 50 633 households, averaging 4.9 people each. 32.0% of residents are under 15 and 5.7% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.0% hold a higher education qualification and 9.3% have had no schooling.

The council has 45 seats across 6 parties, with IFP holding the largest share at 21 seats (46.7%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr Khehla Mkhwanazi serves as executive mayor (IFP), and Ms Sbonga Dlamini 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, Abaqulusi scores 29.8 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R873.2 million in operating revenue against R1.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R210.9 million. At the last census, 46.4% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 90.3% used electricity for lighting and 53.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • IFP 21
  • ANC 14
  • NFP 4
  • EFF 3
  • DA 2
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Khehla Mkhwanazi IFP
Deputy Mayor Mr MA Mazibuko IFP
Speaker Ms NP Ndlela IFP
Chief Whip n/a
Municipal Manager Ms Sbonga Dlamini
Chief Financial Officer Mr MPE Mthembu
Mayoral Committee Mr HB Khumalo Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Mr L Dube Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Mr LWC Mtshali
Mayoral Committee Mr MB Khumalo
Mayoral Committee Mr ML Mtshali
Mayoral Committee Mr PP Selepe Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Mr S Shelembe
Senior Management Mr Msizi Kunene Manager: LED
Senior Management Mr NW Mbongwa Director: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr S Mhlongo Acting Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr SJ Landman Director: Development Planning
Senior Management Mr TS Mthembu Director: Community Services
Communications Mr Z Ndamini
Administrator Mr Sibusiso Mkhize

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates138 259118 18699 002102 034100 717
Service charges386 385362 890315 533309 397285 158
Investment revenue2 7532 4841 7041 265897
Transfers recognised - operational229 989214 439215 280190 884210 960
Other own revenue115 80359 43573 07557 06171 999
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)873 189757 433704 594660 641669 730
Employee costs221 563202 059180 462171 594153 571
Remuneration of councillors18 60917 74417 26517 86517 515
Depreciation and amortisation112 604130 660133 437119 36383 959
Finance charges31 70120 9605 4752557 986
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases391 686323 545262 392268 105207 149
Transfers and subsidies2 811---3 950
Other expenditure305 097311 864265 987262 387202 958
Total Expenditure1 084 0711 006 832865 018839 570677 088
Surplus/(Deficit)-210 882-249 399-160 424-178 929-7 358
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)55 82664 69543 99032 30835 368
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)235 045620--
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-155 033-179 658-115 814-146 62128 010
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-155 033-179 658-115 814-146 62128 010

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure59 210101 68256 25242 63026 879
Transfers recognised - capital50 79050 27931 54035 27624 206
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds7 33131 81727 5555 97917 776
Total sources of capital funds58 12082 09759 09541 25541 982

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets614 451477 980419 811300 357260 588
Total non current assets985 0791 035 2451 044 1481 182 3991 467 265
Total current liabilities746 328565 547423 923347 877251 393
Total non current liabilities204 479143 92399 32392 95288 372
Community wealth/Equity648 723803 756940 7141 057 5491 362 443

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-832254 395203 924198 328557 096
Net cash from (used) investing-60 061-66 282-50 146-38 871-45 655
Net cash from (used) financing1 0384 8652 837-335
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-41 723213 918185 640184 636840 186

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure172 440310 681233 924486 582129 439
Irregular expenditure265 304125 586150 43058 24480 744
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure25 0999 8602 38824 6618 061

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population247 263243 795214 714

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1532.0%37.9%36.8%
Population 15 to 6462.3%57.8%58.5%
Population over 655.7%4.3%4.7%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)60.472.970.8

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females88.992.990.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.4%2.9%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 schooling9.3%8.1%17.1%
Matricn/a33.427.3
Higher education8.0%6.8%6.3%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households50 63351 91043 784
Average household size4.94.74.9
Female headed householdsn/a50.250.1
Formal dwellings84.4%72.7%78.3%
Housing ownedn/a63.366.8

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage54.0%39.1%43.3%
Weekly refuse removal53.9%38.5%41.1%
Piped water inside dwelling46.4%24.3%38.4%
Electricity for lighting90.3%82.3%72.1%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided19 05016 98232 38032 38027 793
Number of domestic households/delivery points16 43414 36629 76429 76425 933
Inside the yard16 43414 36629 76429 76425 538
Less than 200m from yard0000395
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 4352 3652 4633 8983 816

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided18 92318 92332 42732 42731 923
Domestic households with access to free basic service4 9396 9387 1623 8983 641

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided16 43315 56121 56721 56720 666
Flush toilet - public sewerage13 36413 36418 95118 95117 353
Flush toilet - septic tank8720000
Ventilated pit latrine0000500
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 4352 3652 5893 8981 216

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided10 8879 7189 71819 71819 718
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 4352 3652 5893 9062 876

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)180 462171 594153 571141 715130 942
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)17 26517 86517 51515 03616 029
Total Employee Positions704715448445779
Total Vacant Employee Positions23528283341
Total Vacancy Percentage33.4%39.4%1.8%0.7%43.8%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5688888
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5612232
Managerial Positions - by organogram3131312628
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram77608

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans