Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality
Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality is a local municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 5 227 square kilometres. It falls within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Amersfoort, Perdekop, Volksrust and Wakkerstroom.
Census 2022 counted 115 304 residents, making it the 16th most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 172nd of 257 nationally. That works out to 22.1 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 32 972 households, averaging 3.5 people each. 26.7% of residents are under 15 and 6.4% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.5% hold a higher education qualification and 12.3% have had no schooling.
The council has 21 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 13 seats (61.9%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Tshepo H Thwala serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr MA Ngcobo 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, Pixley Ka Seme (MP) scores 44 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 R481.2 million in operating revenue against R589.0 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R107.8 million. At the last census, 57.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 91.8% used electricity for lighting and 71.3% had refuse removed weekly.
Council and management
Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections
- ANC 13 61.9%
- EFF 3 14.3%
- DA 2 9.5%
- APEMO 1 4.8%
- F4SD 1 4.8%
- IFP 1 4.8%
Office bearers
Finances
National Treasury, audited outcomes
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT OUTCOME | Financially unqualified | Financially unqualified | Financially unqualified | Financially unqualified | Qualified audit |
Financial performance
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property rates | 54 067 | 52 551 | 51 412 | 64 784 | 58 495 |
| Service charges | 173 673 | 139 309 | 117 255 | 120 398 | 122 229 |
| Investment revenue | 3 993 | 2 208 | 5 009 | 5 227 | 5 901 |
| Transfers recognised - operational | 174 821 | 193 233 | 155 157 | 136 272 | 154 752 |
| Other own revenue | 74 645 | 81 286 | 91 190 | 88 503 | 51 209 |
| Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions) | 481 199 | 468 586 | 420 023 | 415 185 | 392 586 |
| Employee costs | 106 560 | 102 827 | 101 115 | 101 199 | 100 992 |
| Remuneration of councillors | 10 796 | 10 482 | 9 812 | 9 210 | 8 735 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 75 582 | 76 938 | 73 699 | 84 784 | 65 880 |
| Finance charges | 11 878 | 11 441 | 14 827 | 8 821 | 6 604 |
| Inventory consumed and bulk purchases | 133 257 | 116 984 | 100 085 | 126 124 | 99 605 |
| Transfers and subsidies | - | - | - | - | - |
| Other expenditure | 250 900 | 236 310 | 297 051 | 189 775 | 231 602 |
| Total Expenditure | 588 973 | 554 983 | 596 589 | 519 912 | 513 418 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | -107 774 | -86 397 | -176 566 | -104 727 | -120 832 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations) | 92 573 | 15 000 | 36 386 | 35 954 | 26 768 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions | -15 201 | -71 397 | -140 180 | -68 772 | -94 063 |
| Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | -15 201 | -71 397 | -140 180 | -68 772 | -94 063 |
Capital expenditure & funds sources
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditure | 7 844 | 36 194 | 162 206 | 24 369 | 31 718 |
| Transfers recognised - capital | 4 831 | 11 823 | 137 528 | 24 358 | 28 201 |
| Borrowing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Internally generated funds | 1 930 | 13 853 | 25 561 | -382 | 4 623 |
| Total sources of capital funds | 6 761 | 25 677 | 163 089 | 23 976 | 32 824 |
Financial position
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total current assets | 292 711 | 255 187 | 197 492 | 279 186 | 308 974 |
| Total non current assets | 1 084 995 | 1 087 023 | 1 196 617 | 1 251 512 | 1 214 230 |
| Total current liabilities | 348 624 | 317 080 | 306 254 | 304 138 | 265 195 |
| Total non current liabilities | 123 063 | 101 511 | 97 804 | 96 359 | 104 188 |
| Community wealth/Equity | 906 019 | 923 619 | 990 051 | 1 082 232 | 1 153 821 |
Cash flows
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash from (used) operating | -5 910 | 20 075 | 29 661 | 62 637 | 220 267 |
| Net cash from (used) investing | -84 395 | -40 906 | -34 308 | -40 026 | -39 874 |
| Net cash from (used) financing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cash/cash equivalents at the year end | -80 938 | 12 222 | 97 703 | 169 099 | 281 511 |
Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised expenditure | - | - | - | - | - |
| Irregular expenditure | 3 309 | 14 815 | 14 528 | 6 135 | 10 177 |
| Fruitless & wasteful expenditure | 788 | 408 | 1 971 | 2 349 | 23 |
Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1
People
Statistics South Africa, Census
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 115 304 | 85 395 | 83 235 |
Age structure
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population under 15 | 26.7% | 32.7% | 34.9% |
| Population 15 to 64 | 66.9% | 61.2% | 59.4% |
| Population over 65 | 6.4% | 6.2% | 5.7% |
Dependency ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 (15-64) | 49.5 | 63.5 | 68.3 |
Sex ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males per 100 females | 92.4 | 91 | 90.4 |
Population growth
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per annum | 3.2% | 0.6% | n/a |
Labour market
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | n/a | n/a | 36.1 |
| Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 | n/a | n/a | 45.1 |
Education (aged 20 +)
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No schooling | 12.3% | 17.6% | 19.3% |
| Matric | n/a | 29.6 | 24.7 |
| Higher education | 6.5% | 6.1% | 6.8% |
Household dynamics
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 32 972 | 22 546 | 19 838 |
| Average household size | 3.5 | 3.8 | 4.2 |
| Female headed households | n/a | 47.1 | 45.1 |
| Formal dwellings | 89.7% | 88.9% | 76.8% |
| Housing owned | n/a | 61.7 | 40 |
Household services
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 77.4% | 64.8% | 65.2% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 71.3% | 53.2% | 62.0% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 57.6% | 23.7% | 38.9% |
| Electricity for lighting | 91.8% | 86.8% | 85.2% |
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? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 25 327 | 22 756 | 22 756 | 22 546 | 20 135 |
| Number of domestic households/delivery points | 22 330 | 19 759 | 19 759 | 19 549 | 19 268 |
| Inside the yard | 20 106 | 17 535 | 17 535 | 17 434 | 17 434 |
| Less than 200m from yard | 1 871 | 1 871 | 1 871 | 1 872 | 1 591 |
| More than 200m from yard | 353 | 353 | 353 | 243 | 243 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 314 | 1 250 | 1 250 | 1 828 | 1 880 |
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 | 23 927 | 23 927 | 23 441 | 23 441 | 23 141 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 314 | 1 250 | 1 250 | 1 828 | 1 880 |
Sewerage and sanitation
| 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 | 23 183 | 23 183 | 23 181 | 22 625 | 22 555 |
| Flush toilet - public sewerage | 15 406 | 15 406 | 15 406 | 15 271 | 15 241 |
| Flush toilet - septic tank | 486 | 486 | 484 | 484 | 484 |
| Ventilated pit latrine | 6 613 | 6 613 | 6 613 | 5 558 | 5 518 |
| Bucket system | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 634 | 634 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 314 | 1 250 | 1 250 | 1 828 | 1 880 |
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 | 14 943 | 14 943 | 14 943 | 14 943 | 14 943 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 314 | 1 250 | 1 250 | 1 828 | 1 880 |
Staffing
National Treasury
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Costs (R’000) | 101 115 | 101 199 | 100 992 | 85 922 | 88 456 |
| Remuneration of councillors (R’000) | 9 812 | 9 210 | 8 735 | 8 892 | 8 645 |
| Total Employee Positions | 383 | 382 | 285 | 435 | 334 |
| Total Vacant Employee Positions | 100 | 100 | 3 | 141 | 79 |
| Total Vacancy Percentage | 26.1% | 26.2% | 1.1% | 32.4% | 23.7% |
| Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Managerial Positions - by organogram | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
Published documents
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