eMadlangeni Local Municipality

eMadlangeni Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 3 539 square kilometres. It falls within the Amajuba District Municipality. Its main centre is Utrecht.

Census 2022 counted 36 948 residents, making it the 52nd most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 232nd of 257 nationally. That works out to 10.4 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 7 998 households, averaging 4.6 people each. 29.3% of residents are under 15 and 6.4% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 7.6% hold a higher education qualification and 11.2% have had no schooling.

The council has 11 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 4 seats (36.4%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr Mzwakhe Buthelezi serves as executive mayor (IFP), and Mrs Grace Mavundla 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, Emadlangeni scores 42.1 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 R136.0 million in operating revenue against R172.0 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R36.0 million. At the last census, 43.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 72.1% used electricity for lighting and 38.6% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

ANC 4 36.4%
IFP 4 36.4%
DA 1 9.1%
EFF 1 9.1%
NFP 1 9.1%

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Mzwakhe Buthelezi IFP

Deputy Mayor Ms M Khumalo

Speaker Ms PX Qwabe IFP

Chief Whip Ms SM Khoza

Municipal Manager Mrs Grace Mavundla

Chief Financial Officer Ms Sphephelo Mkhize

Mayoral Committee Ms KV Sibisi

Mayoral Committee Mr M Khumalo

Mayoral Committee Mr MJ Mthethwa

Mayoral Committee Ms N Madida

Mayoral Committee Mr N Nkosi

Mayoral Committee Mr NM Dekker

Mayoral Committee Ms PF Chongo NFP

Mayoral Committee Mr VC Ndlovu

Senior Management Mr ET Mbongwa Chief Fire and Disaster Manager

Senior Management Mr Mandla Jele Manager: ICT

Senior Management Mrs N Zungu Director: Community Services and Public Safety

Senior Management Nomholi Madinana Deputy Director: Corporate Services

Senior Management Ms SN Mkhize

Communications Mr Ayanda Mabaso

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Property rates	43 790	37 400	25 471	22 635	21 787
Service charges	21 523	17 293	16 056	17 576	15 858
Investment revenue	1 112	1 454	557	576	182
Transfers recognised - operational	53 731	45 307	43 866	50 580	44 734
Other own revenue	15 851	12 081	6 033	8 767	6 531
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	136 007	113 536	91 982	100 134	89 092
Employee costs	52 802	51 116	46 132	38 593	38 210
Remuneration of councillors	4 794	4 647	4 928	3 925	3 715
Depreciation and amortisation	8 818	18 618	11 628	9 567	9 658
Finance charges	1 166	307	1 967	1 726	161
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	28 070	22 616	20 114	19 658	16 852
Transfers and subsidies	-	-	-	-	-
Other expenditure	76 398	70 704	38 277	32 082	31 171
Total Expenditure	172 048	168 008	123 047	105 551	99 767
Surplus/(Deficit)	-36 041	-54 472	-31 065	-5 417	-10 675
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)	52 934	44 266	23 834	4 807	14 310
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)	3 449	-	-	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	20 342	-10 205	-7 231	-610	3 635
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	-	-	-	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	20 342	-10 205	-7 231	-610	3 635

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Capital expenditure	41 351	226 586	111 247	177 014	154 391
Transfers recognised - capital	36 805	14 854	9 043	71 906	54 492
Borrowing	-	-	-	-	-
Internally generated funds	-2 993	211 732	102 204	105 108	99 898
Total sources of capital funds	33 812	226 586	111 247	177 014	154 391

Financial position

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Total current assets	50 403	59 988	50 328	23 951	35 933
Total non current assets	177 629	148 275	148 308	208 367	195 694
Total current liabilities	92 052	92 368	72 799	56 358	54 439
Total non current liabilities	1 410	1 636	1 605	1 989	2 171
Community wealth/Equity	114 228	124 464	131 463	174 582	171 381

Cash flows

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Net cash from (used) operating	92 571	27 747	4 659	5 478	6 852
Net cash from (used) investing	-41 008	19	9	-	-
Net cash from (used) financing	22	-	-	-	-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	67 550	21 975	4 317	5 137	6 852

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Unauthorised expenditure	22 890	16 038	28 581	38 638	11 437
Irregular expenditure	32 957	47 294	45 088	13 770	29 802
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	437	182	369	1 114	116

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population	36 948	36 869	34 442

Age structure

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population under 15	29.3%	38.6%	35.9%
Population 15 to 64	64.3%	57.6%	59.1%
Population over 65	6.4%	3.8%	5.1%

Dependency ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per 100 (15-64)	55.6	73.6	69.3

Sex ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Males per 100 females	97	92.6	103.1

Population growth

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per annum	0.7%	1.6%	n/a

Labour market

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Unemployment rate (official)	n/a	n/a	37.6
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34	n/a	n/a	46.4

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure	2022	2016	2011
No schooling	11.2%	10.7%	14.9%
Matric	n/a	26.6	20.1
Higher education	7.6%	8.1%	4.8%

Household dynamics

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Households	7 998	6 667	6 252
Average household size	4.6	5.5	5.5
Female headed households	n/a	45.3	38.8
Formal dwellings	81.7%	67.4%	58.3%
Housing owned	n/a	79.5	41.8

Household services

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	43.0%	32.7%	33.2%
Weekly refuse removal	38.6%	29.4%	24.2%
Piped water inside dwelling	43.7%	25.0%	27.0%
Electricity for lighting	72.1%	57.2%	48.5%

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	4 747	4 543	4 406	4 406	4 024
Domestic households with access to free basic service	154	154	164	0	0

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	1 324	1 250	973	973	973
Domestic households with access to free basic service	154	154	164	0	0

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)	46 132	38 593	38 210	34 392	31 486
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)	4 928	3 925	3 715	3 714	3 568
Total Employee Positions	166	180	118	138	159
Total Vacant Employee Positions	11	57	4	2	24
Total Vacancy Percentage	6.6%	31.7%	3.4%	1.5%	15.1%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	4	4	4	4	4
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	0	2	0	0	0
Managerial Positions - by organogram	8	10	10	8	8
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram	0	2	4	2	2

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans

D Under strain Financial health 42.1 of 100, 2024/25

Audit outcome Financially unqualified

The financial statements are reliable, but the Auditor-General raised findings on performance reporting or compliance.

Operating margin -26.5%

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

Current ratio 0.55:1

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

Cash coverage 4.7 months

Cash on hand could fund operations for this long without any new income.

Irregular spending 32.71%

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

Location

Within KwaZulu-Natal

Contact

Telephone: 034 331 3040/1/2
Email: [email protected]
Website: emadlangeni.gov.za
Address: 34 Voor Street, Utrecht, 2980
Postal: PO Box 11, Utrecht, 2980