MunicipalitiesSA

Amahlathi Local Municipality

EC124 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

115 703 Population Census 2022
4 505 Square kilometres 25.7 per km2
33 621 Households
30 Council seats

Amahlathi Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 4 505 square kilometres. It falls within the Amathole District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Cathcart, Kei Road, Keiskammahoek, Stutterheim and Tshoxa.

Census 2022 counted 115 703 residents, making it the 27th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 171st of 257 nationally. That works out to 25.7 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 33 621 households, averaging 3.4 people each. 27.8% of residents are under 15 and 9.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.1% hold a higher education qualification and 7.1% have had no schooling.

The council has 30 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 24 seats (80.0%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Nomakhosazana Nongqayi serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Dr Zamuxolo Shasha 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, Amahlathi scores 50.4 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 R306.9 million in operating revenue against R317.3 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R10.4 million. At the last census, 38.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.8% used electricity for lighting and 39.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 24
  • DA 3
  • EFF 2
  • APC 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Nomakhosazana Nongqayi ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mrs Nokuzola Mlahleki ANC
Chief Whip Mrs Pateka Qaba
Municipal Manager Dr Zamuxolo Shasha
Chief Financial Officer Mrs Buyiswa Ngwendu
Mayoral Committee Mr Busisa Xongwana Portfolio Head: Development and Planning
Mayoral Committee Ms Nobathembu Angeline Kato-Manyika Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury Office
Mayoral Committee Mr Richard Pickering Portfolio Head: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Xola Moses Tokwe Portfolio Head: Engineering Services
Senior Management Ms Andiswa Noholoza Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mrs Nonkqubela Dlova Director: Engineering
Senior Management Ms Nozuko Nqulo Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Simphiwe Mnweba Director: Development and Planning
Communications Ms Anathi Nyoka
Communications Ms Pamella Gavini Secretary to Municipal Manager
Communications Ms Sandy Kleinhans Secretary to the Speaker
Communications Siyabulela Mbi Secretary to the Mayor
Administrator Dr Sindisile Maclean

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates22 00324 16923 33122 17820 576
Service charges75 46959 02147 02049 71349 448
Investment revenue3 4213 4561 6133661 001
Transfers recognised - operational146 325138 142130 339121 776144 141
Other own revenue59 69641 82423 35817 22013 502
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)306 914266 611225 661211 253228 668
Employee costs124 980136 206135 383123 339132 726
Remuneration of councillors14 00613 59513 66211 53311 599
Depreciation and amortisation41 06225 94026 03026 04925 570
Finance charges7 06915 52410 0472 5363 802
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases59 49151 98843 36443 06136 188
Transfers and subsidies-1010--
Other expenditure70 67361 19868 55527 71866 080
Total Expenditure317 281304 461297 053234 236275 965
Surplus/(Deficit)-10 367-37 850-71 393-22 983-47 297
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)77 65746 07832 25528 30052 932
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions67 2908 228-39 1385 3175 635
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year67 2908 228-39 1385 3175 635

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure815 578762 856713 095679 174657 139
Transfers recognised - capital741 867685 006643 966612 699564 243
Borrowing670670670670312
Internally generated funds73 04077 17968 45965 80558 451
Total sources of capital funds815 578762 856713 095679 174623 006

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets114 38393 77798 38777 25249 831
Total non current assets468 429438 329415 719407 260406 509
Total current liabilities159 685221 861224 361160 240158 971
Total non current liabilities91 73645 60839 81339 13239 074
Community wealth/Equity264 100256 409289 070279 823252 660

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating236 875182 54468 95326 0059 010
Net cash from (used) investing-370-1---
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end238 063184 10270 51227 56310 576

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure19 131-36 221288 10249 137
Irregular expenditure35 22023 94816 67317 04417 734
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure4 76610 68010 34712 0223 724

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population115 703101 826101 035

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.8%31.5%30.7%
Population 15 to 6462.7%63.3%60.9%
Population over 659.5%5.2%8.4%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)59.45864.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females95.393.291.8

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.3%0.2%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 schooling7.1%5.4%10.1%
Matricn/a20.213.9
Higher education6.1%4.8%4.8%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households33 62124 57728 357
Average household size3.44.13.6
Female headed householdsn/a47.248
Formal dwellings84.3%53.1%61.5%
Housing ownedn/a75.268.9

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage46.4%21.6%26.5%
Weekly refuse removal39.7%14.0%24.6%
Piped water inside dwelling38.3%13.7%18.4%
Electricity for lighting94.8%92.0%82.4%

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 provided32 11632 11632 11629 42729 427
Domestic households with access to free basic service3 5813 3702 03421 36215 290

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 provided13 3369 2199 2199 2199 219
Domestic households with access to free basic service4724724723 0813 081

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)135 383123 339132 726124 149126 639
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)13 66211 53311 59911 99311 460
Total Employee Positions299284299307345
Total Vacant Employee Positions74520
Total Vacancy Percentage2.3%1.4%1.7%0.7%0.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5604320
Managerial Positions - by organogram2727273719
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram70200

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans