Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality

Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is a local municipality in Limpopo, covering 7 490 square kilometres. It falls within the Mopani District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Gravelotte and Leydsdorp.

Census 2022 counted 188 603 residents, making it the 19th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 118th of 257 nationally. That works out to 25.2 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 51 651 households, averaging 3.7 people each. 31.8% of residents are under 15 and 5.0% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 10.0% hold a higher education qualification and 14.3% have had no schooling.

The council has 37 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 24 seats (64.9%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Merriam Malatji serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms ST Mokobi 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, Ba-Phalaborwa scores 32.9 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R585.6 million in operating revenue against R762.0 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R176.3 million. At the last census, 41.0% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.7% used electricity for lighting and 43.2% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

ANC 24 64.9%
EFF 5 13.5%
DA 4 10.8%
NIP 2 5.4%
MIM 1 2.7%
VF PLUS 1 2.7%

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Merriam Malatji ANC

Deputy Mayor n/a

Speaker Mr Oliver Mabunda ANC

Chief Whip Ms Didodo Mary Rapatsa

Municipal Manager Ms ST Mokobi

Chief Financial Officer Mr A Nzimande

Mayoral Committee Ms Jamela Selapyane Acting

Mayoral Committee Mrs Mokgadi Paulina Mailula Chairperson: Planning and Development

Mayoral Committee Mr Pontsho Mashumu Exco Member

Mayoral Committee Mr Richard Makasela Chairperson: Finance

Mayoral Committee Mr Sobrant de Beer Chairperson: Community and Social Services

Mayoral Committee Mr Thompson Nkuna Chairperson: Corporate Services

Mayoral Committee Mr Victor Rapatsa Chairperson: Technical Services

Senior Management Ms JB Selapyyane

Senior Management Mr MC Mashale Manager: LED

Senior Management Ms Motlalepula Mphachoe

Senior Management Mr T Hlongwane

Communications Mr Jonas Mahesu Municipal Spokesperson

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
AUDIT OUTCOME	Qualified audit	Qualified audit	Qualified audit	Qualified audit	Qualified audit

Financial performance

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Property rates	128 877	127 740	135 075	133 398	95 114
Service charges	149 243	137 825	138 523	131 390	121 622
Investment revenue	4 881	5 120	4 026	2 434	2 718
Transfers recognised - operational	223 452	215 659	196 070	182 025	205 154
Other own revenue	79 171	66 927	88 426	107 701	206 134
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	585 624	553 272	562 120	556 948	630 743
Employee costs	179 827	167 310	172 122	165 677	143 244
Remuneration of councillors	17 260	16 987	18 189	17 262	15 304
Depreciation and amortisation	49 456	43 073	47 422	86 780	84 208
Finance charges	22 144	22 902	20 847	18 266	18 641
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	180 212	162 442	129 620	130 847	103 886
Transfers and subsidies	214	10 676	7 390	9 854	-
Other expenditure	312 844	394 498	51 936	197 672	129 128
Total Expenditure	761 957	817 887	447 526	626 360	494 412
Surplus/(Deficit)	-176 333	-264 615	114 594	-69 411	136 331
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)	35 105	49 065	42 559	47 155	49 099
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)	-	51 703	332	11 899	-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	-141 228	-163 847	157 484	-10 357	185 430
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	-	-	-	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	-141 228	-163 847	157 484	-10 357	185 430

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Capital expenditure	40 973	140 761	51 980	89 087	-
Transfers recognised - capital	26 265	49 986	15 293	10 687	-
Borrowing	-	-	-	-	-
Internally generated funds	14 707	90 775	36 687	78 400	-
Total sources of capital funds	40 973	140 761	51 980	89 087	-

Financial position

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Total current assets	2 057 160	1 912 579	1 928 073	1 436 888	1 267 535
Total non current assets	1 280 728	1 266 906	1 247 008	1 244 502	1 268 041
Total current liabilities	2 362 771	2 134 030	1 939 056	1 763 971	1 448 713
Total non current liabilities	210 641	190 907	201 940	217 855	216 315
Community wealth/Equity	905 703	1 018 395	876 602	709 923	685 118

Cash flows

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Net cash from (used) operating	-70 092	537 023	65 079	890 155	-
Net cash from (used) investing	-36 950	-68 780	-19 232	-	-
Net cash from (used) financing	-19 017	1 293	-17 642	-	-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	-73 054	526 255	84 925	959 475	69 320

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Unauthorised expenditure	-	84 816	-	61 590	27 120
Irregular expenditure	14 426	20 879	21 969	40 549	28 554
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	-	7 194	183	509	87

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population	188 603	168 937	150 637

Age structure

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population under 15	31.8%	31.4%	32.9%
Population 15 to 64	63.2%	65.2%	63.2%
Population over 65	5.0%	3.4%	3.9%

Dependency ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per 100 (15-64)	58.1	53.3	58.2

Sex ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Males per 100 females	91.8	95.2	94.1

Population growth

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per annum	2.2%	2.6%	n/a

Labour market

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Unemployment rate (official)	n/a	n/a	37.4
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34	n/a	n/a	50.2

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure	2022	2016	2011
No schooling	14.3%	12.9%	14.6%
Matric	n/a	30.6	23.3
Higher education	10.0%	9.2%	11.0%

Household dynamics

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Households	51 651	49 100	41 114
Average household size	3.7	3.4	3.7
Female headed households	n/a	38.9	39.5
Formal dwellings	98.1%	96.7%	96.4%
Housing owned	n/a	77	61.6

Household services

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	48.8%	36.8%	42.6%
Weekly refuse removal	43.2%	42.2%	48.8%
Piped water inside dwelling	41.0%	30.6%	37.1%
Electricity for lighting	97.7%	98.1%	90.8%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Number of domestic households/delivery points	0	0	0	0	0
Inside the yard	0	0	0	0	0
Less than 200m from yard	0	0	0	0	0
More than 200m from yard	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0

Electricity

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	51 879	51 318	46 087	45 995	45 995
Domestic households with access to free basic service	419	421	823	423	1 269

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Flush toilet - public sewerage	0	0	0	0	0
Flush toilet - septic tank	0	0	0	0	0
Ventilated pit latrine	0	0	0	0	0
Bucket system	0	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0

Solid waste services

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	23 941	23 941	22 941	22 941	22 941
Domestic households with access to free basic service	334	252	523	423	423

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)	172 122	165 677	143 244	147 649	128 892
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)	18 189	17 262	15 304	18 850	17 227
Total Employee Positions	653	503	468	442	644
Total Vacant Employee Positions	248	2	3	1	221
Total Vacancy Percentage	38.0%	0.4%	0.6%	0.2%	34.3%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	6	6	6	6	6
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	0	1	0	0	0
Managerial Positions - by organogram	22	16	19	19	20
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram	0	0	3	1	1

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans

E Distressed Financial health 32.9 of 100, 2024/25

Audit outcome Qualified audit

The Auditor-General found material misstatements in parts of the financial statements.

Operating margin -30.1%

The municipality spent more than it collected on day-to-day operations, running an operating deficit.

Current ratio 0.87:1

Short-term obligations exceed short-term assets, a common early sign of cash-flow trouble.

Cash coverage -1.2 months

Cash on hand covers less than a month of operations, leaving no buffer for shocks.

Irregular spending 1.89%

Share of total spending the Auditor-General flagged as unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful.

Location

Within Limpopo

Contact

Telephone: 015 780 6300
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.phalaborwa.gov.za
Address: Civic Centre, Nelson Mandela Drive, Phalaborwa
Postal: Private Bag X01020, Phalaborwa, 1390