Emalahleni Local Municipality
Emalahleni Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 3 484 square kilometres. It falls within the Chris Hani District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Cacadu (Lady Frere), Dordrecht and Indwe.
Census 2022 counted 128 873 residents, making it the 25th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 156th of 257 nationally. That works out to 37.0 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 32 771 households, averaging 3.9 people each. 30.6% of residents are under 15 and 11.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 4.2% hold a higher education qualification and 12.0% have had no schooling.
The council has 34 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 28 seats (82.4%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Ntombizanele Flowerdale Koni serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms Thozama Madotyeni is acting 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, Emalahleni (EC) scores 58.1 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R332.8 million in operating revenue against R311.3 million in expenditure, an operating surplus of R21.5 million. At the last census, 31.1% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.5% used electricity for lighting and 39.2% had refuse removed weekly.
Council and management
Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections
- ANC 28 82.4%
- DA 2 5.9%
- EFF 2 5.9%
- ISANCO 1 2.9%
- UDM 1 2.9%
Office bearers
Finances
National Treasury, audited outcomes
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT OUTCOME | Financially unqualified | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit |
Financial performance
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property rates | 12 054 | - | 11 466 | 10 978 | 9 893 |
| Service charges | 33 060 | - | 26 823 | 24 067 | 21 590 |
| Investment revenue | 14 194 | 1 467 | 7 192 | 3 982 | 2 274 |
| Transfers recognised - operational | 220 234 | - | 154 229 | 145 637 | 165 249 |
| Other own revenue | 53 225 | - | 11 894 | 19 083 | 10 646 |
| Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions) | 332 768 | 1 467 | 211 604 | 203 746 | 209 651 |
| Employee costs | 106 472 | -1 706 | 85 155 | 89 770 | 87 658 |
| Remuneration of councillors | 15 473 | - | 14 240 | 13 389 | 13 442 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 21 776 | -3 665 | 18 536 | 22 161 | 30 739 |
| Finance charges | 4 191 | 1 699 | 181 | 14 | 1 366 |
| Inventory consumed and bulk purchases | 26 378 | -769 | 16 352 | 17 264 | 16 895 |
| Transfers and subsidies | 652 | - | 1 369 | 3 696 | 3 265 |
| Other expenditure | 136 356 | -2 316 | 59 178 | 69 200 | 79 590 |
| Total Expenditure | 311 299 | -6 757 | 195 011 | 215 495 | 232 956 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | 21 469 | 8 223 | 16 593 | -11 749 | -23 304 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations) | 51 946 | - | 66 329 | 53 046 | 62 872 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions | 73 415 | 8 223 | 82 922 | 41 297 | 39 568 |
| Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | 73 415 | 8 223 | 82 922 | 41 297 | 39 568 |
Capital expenditure & funds sources
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditure | 91 770 | 4 484 | 67 085 | 6 471 | 59 388 |
| Transfers recognised - capital | 86 794 | -3 257 | 64 235 | 49 391 | 56 814 |
| Borrowing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Internally generated funds | 3 545 | 5 057 | 2 795 | 901 | 2 574 |
| Total sources of capital funds | 90 339 | 1 801 | 67 029 | 50 292 | 59 388 |
Financial position
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total current assets | 148 526 | -11 684 | 184 328 | 128 177 | 95 923 |
| Total non current assets | 572 211 | 6 618 | 488 795 | 444 948 | 442 024 |
| Total current liabilities | 55 171 | -12 530 | 80 702 | 58 759 | 55 609 |
| Total non current liabilities | 47 002 | - | 13 512 | 13 512 | 13 558 |
| Community wealth/Equity | 545 148 | -758 | 495 987 | 459 557 | 429 212 |
Cash flows
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash from (used) operating | -203 815 | - | 1 727 915 | 267 192 | 199 906 |
| Net cash from (used) investing | - | - | (60 440) | 44 909 | (45 623) |
| Net cash from (used) financing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cash/cash equivalents at the year end | -69 944 | - | 1 743 548 | 375 952 | 160 074 |
Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised expenditure | 85 418 | 27 623 | 10 476 | 47 719 | 10 373 |
| Irregular expenditure | 63 830 | 16 251 | 10 042 | 27 892 | 5 293 |
| Fruitless & wasteful expenditure | 7 258 | 35 | 866 | 1 167 | 6 191 |
Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1
People
Statistics South Africa, Census
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 128 873 | 124 532 | 120 758 |
Age structure
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population under 15 | 30.6% | 40.1% | 35.1% |
| Population 15 to 64 | 57.6% | 52.5% | 55.0% |
| Population over 65 | 11.8% | 7.4% | 9.9% |
Dependency ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 (15-64) | 73.5 | 90.5 | 81.9 |
Sex ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males per 100 females | 94.8 | 91.5 | 90.1 |
Population growth
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per annum | 0.6% | 0.7% | n/a |
Labour market
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Education (aged 20 +)
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No schooling | 12.0% | 12.1% | 18.8% |
| Matric | n/a | 15.5 | 10.9 |
| Higher education | 4.2% | 3.5% | 3.8% |
Household dynamics
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 32 771 | 27 008 | 32 005 |
| Average household size | 3.9 | 4.6 | 3.8 |
| Female headed households | n/a | 53.2 | 53.7 |
| Formal dwellings | 83.4% | 38.1% | 55.8% |
| Housing owned | n/a | 75.6 | 60.7 |
Household services
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 38.6% | 13.1% | 13.1% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 39.2% | 18.7% | 8.2% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 31.1% | 4.6% | 8.6% |
| Electricity for lighting | 95.5% | 94.0% | 78.5% |
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 | 155 200 | 147 634 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Inside the yard | 118 682 | 118 682 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Less than 200m from yard | 23 012 | 6 284 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| More than 200m from yard | 13 506 | 22 668 | 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 | 23 321 | 22 965 | 22 965 | 22 965 | 21 831 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 484 | 5 655 | 3 905 | 3 905 | 3 905 |
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 | 7 999 | 7 999 | 7 999 | 7 999 | 7 999 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 357 | 803 | 803 | 803 | 803 |
Staffing
National Treasury
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Costs (R’000) | 85 155 | 89 770 | 87 658 | 83 612 | 80 446 |
| Remuneration of councillors (R’000) | 14 240 | 13 389 | 13 442 | 13 486 | 13 003 |
| Total Employee Positions | 271 | 282 | 206 | 206 | 191 |
| Total Vacant Employee Positions | 14 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Total Vacancy Percentage | 5.2% | 7.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1.1% |
| Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Managerial Positions - by organogram | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 12 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Published documents
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