eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is one of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities, the category reserved for the country’s largest urban centres, and it governs 2 556 square kilometres of KwaZulu-Natal. It takes in 99 recognised towns and settlements, among them Amalanga, Amanzimtoti, Amaotana, Berea, Blackburn, Bluff, Cato Ridge, Cele/Vumengazi.

Census 2022 counted 4 239 901 residents, making it the 1st most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 3rd of 257 nationally. That works out to 1 658.8 people per square kilometre. That is dense urban settlement. There are 1 122 738 households, averaging 3.8 people each. 21.0% of residents are under 15 and 6.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 12.9% hold a higher education qualification and 4.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 222 seats across 26 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 96 seats (43.2%). It is governed by a coalition: ANC/EFF Coalition. Mr Cyril Xaba serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Musa Mbhele 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, eThekwini scores 56.5 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 R58.5 billion in operating revenue against R61.2 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R2.7 billion. At the last census, 69.8% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 98.5% used electricity for lighting and 80.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

ANC 96 43.2%
DA 56 25.2%
EFF 24 10.8%
IFP 17 7.7%
ACTIONSA 4 1.8%
ABC 2 0.9%
AIC 2 0.9%
ACC 2 0.9%
ACDP 2 0.9%
ALJAMA 1 0.5%
MOSA 1 0.5%
NFP 1 0.5%
PFP 1 0.5%
PRM 1 0.5%
TA 1 0.5%
UIM 1 0.5%
MK 1 0.5%
MF 1 0.5%
KZNI 1 0.5%
JEP 1 0.5%
INDEPENDENT 1 0.5%
DLC 1 0.5%
ADEC 1 0.5%
ATM 1 0.5%
APF 1 0.5%
VF PLUS 1 0.5%

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Cyril Xaba ANC

Deputy Mayor Ms Zandile Myeni (Chairperson: Security and Emergency Services Committee) ANC

Speaker Mr Thabani Nyawose ANC

Chief Whip Ms Patience Sishange

Municipal Manager Mr Musa Mbhele Acting

Chief Financial Officer Dr Sandile Mnguni

Mayoral Committee Mr Andre Beetge Exco

Mayoral Committee Mr Bhekithemba Otto Mvubu Chairperson: Human Settlements, Engineering and Transport Committee

Mayoral Committee Mr Braveman Thembubuhle Ntuli Chairperson: ECOD Committee

Mayoral Committee Mr Mduduzi Nkosi Chairperson: Trading Services Committee

Mayoral Committee Mr Nkosenhle Mandlala Chairperson: Governance Committee

Mayoral Committee Mr Thabani Mthethwa Exco

Mayoral Committee Ms Yogiswarie Govender Exco

Mayoral Committee Ms Zamazulu Sokhabase Chairperson: Community Services Committee

Senior Management Mr George Mohlakoana Acting: Chief Operations Officer

Senior Management Ms Kim Makhathini Corporate and Human Resources

Senior Management Mr Malusi Mhlongo Executive Director: Office of the City Manager

Senior Management Ms Mapule Hadebe Chief Audit Executive

Senior Management Dr Musa Gumede Deputy City Manager: Community and Emergency Services

Senior Management Mr Sibusiso Makhanya Trading Services

Senior Management Mr Sipho Cele Governance and International Relations

Communications Ms Gugu Sisilana Head of Communications

Communications Mr Mandla Nsele Acting

Communications Mr Thabani Nyawose Spokesperson

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	Financially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Property rates	13 518 814	12 859 364	11 941 551	9 842 739	9 412 383
Service charges	29 336 194	27 439 190	23 781 361	22 525 368	21 033 593
Investment revenue	595 763	886 901	573 053	258 803	235 472
Transfers recognised - operational	5 620 457	5 706 999	5 046 879	4 250 180	7 398 604
Other own revenue	9 381 066	8 650 714	7 515 011	6 006 158	1 375 384
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	58 452 293	55 543 167	48 857 854	42 883 249	39 455 435
Employee costs	14 137 918	13 395 299	12 427 942	12 328 328	12 625 521
Remuneration of councillors	149 291	142 140	140 630	133 912	127 770
Depreciation and amortisation	3 279 334	2 842 685	2 837 956	2 780 135	2 698 058
Finance charges	1 079 425	1 038 211	959 709	904 113	848 347
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	21 107 051	18 525 991	16 245 029	14 659 485	13 600 794
Transfers and subsidies	485 978	575 560	682 723	509 784	525 181
Other expenditure	20 939 741	19 325 825	14 088 542	13 063 294	10 839 284
Total Expenditure	61 178 739	55 845 710	47 382 532	44 379 051	41 264 955
Surplus/(Deficit)	-2 726 446	-302 543	1 475 322	-1 495 802	-1 809 520
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)	2 734 590	3 763 573	3 160 876	3 389 857	2 813 519
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)	9 562	137 241	38 126	3 232	853
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	17 707	3 598 271	4 674 324	1 897 286	1 004 852
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	-	-	-	153 238	144 529
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	17 707	3 598 271	4 674 324	2 050 524	1 149 381

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Capital expenditure	149 159 041	97 435 521	4 272 809	2 960 436	3 878 719
Transfers recognised - capital	55 490 711	30 997 807	2 771 683	2 235 541	2 249 845
Borrowing	14 248 673	9 510 036	1 114 400	952 908	688 863
Internally generated funds	78 943 204	56 589 921	351 644	-228 107	941 430
Total sources of capital funds	148 682 588	97 097 763	4 237 728	2 960 342	3 880 138

Financial position

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Total current assets	22 414 609	23 959 456	8 597 205	560 063	1 639 788
Total non current assets	66 526 945	62 630 159	-1 957 248	578 134	1 234 869
Total current liabilities	20 995 195	19 814 326	1 830 087	172 511	902 654
Total non current liabilities	15 428 604	14 625 745	1 418 800	-71 601	1 454 462
Community wealth/Equity	52 517 754	52 149 544	3 391 070	1 037 287	517 541

Cash flows

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Net cash from (used) operating	26 439 994	17 597 603	8 060 961	95 201	-
Net cash from (used) investing	-1 560 698	-1 334 246	3 830 403	-219 690	55 740
Net cash from (used) financing	-	-	-	-	-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	24 879 296	16 263 357	11 891 364	-124 489	55 740

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Unauthorised expenditure	-	-	-	-	-
Irregular expenditure	4 481 997	1 612 015	2 408 877	1 497 679	770 324
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	67 353	6 723	579	48 316	9 573

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population	4 239 901	3 702 231	3 476 686

Age structure

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population under 15	21.0%	29.5%	25.3%
Population 15 to 64	72.2%	64.8%	69.9%
Population over 65	6.8%	5.7%	4.8%

Dependency ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per 100 (15-64)	38.4	54.4	43

Sex ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Males per 100 females	95.6	96.2	95.5

Population growth

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per annum	1.9%	1.4%	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	4.4%	4.7%	4.3%
Matric	n/a	43.1	36.9
Higher education	12.9%	10.9%	12.0%

Household dynamics

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Households	1 122 738	1 125 767	963 011
Average household size	3.8	3.3	3.6
Female headed households	n/a	42.1	40.1
Formal dwellings	89.2%	81.5%	78.8%
Housing owned	n/a	74	54.6

Household services

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	80.4%	69.3%	67.8%
Weekly refuse removal	80.7%	78.1%	85.6%
Piped water inside dwelling	69.8%	60.8%	59.8%
Electricity for lighting	98.5%	95.7%	89.9%

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	1 240 807	1 231 111	930 839	925 788	920 363
Number of domestic households/delivery points	1 215 799	1 207 536	909 383	905 402	899 976
Inside the yard	679 873	671 077	664 601	660 620	655 894
Less than 200m from yard	301 342	249 532	244 782	244 782	244 082
More than 200m from yard	234 584	286 927	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	599 478	594 986	586 227	584 435	579 127

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	792 514	792 486	786 439	781 960	764 499
Domestic households with access to free basic service	230 000	103 719	103 719	216 529	191 033

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	901 433	886 042	873 463	870 087	866 873
Flush toilet - public sewerage	486 139	483 786	480 001	479 944	478 649
Flush toilet - septic tank	107 525	107 525	107 525	107 525	107 525
Ventilated pit latrine	35 000	35 000	35 000	35 000	35 000
Bucket system	0	0	0	0	0
Other	247 761	236 156	230 551	227 232	225 313
Domestic households with access to free basic service	446 400	446 400	445 667	442 291	439 077

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	1 234 282	1 189 540	1 189 540	1 189 540	1 131 000
Domestic households with access to free basic service	316 117	123 342	123 342	602 939	602 939

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)	12 427 942	12 328 328	12 625 521	11 181 308	10 475 362
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)	140 630	133 912	127 770	130 833	126 495
Total Employee Positions	27 386	28 147	25 350	28 014	29 710
Total Vacant Employee Positions	2 648	3 680	157	2 855	3 054
Total Vacancy Percentage	9.7%	13.1%	0.6%	10.2%	10.3%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	9	9	9	9	8
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	2	1	0	0	2
Managerial Positions - by organogram	806	806	837	837	803
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram	196	110	157	122	114

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans

C Fair Financial health 56.5 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 -4.7%

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

Current ratio 1.07:1

Short-term assets cover short-term obligations.

Cash coverage 4.9 months

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

Irregular spending 7.44%

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

Location

Within KwaZulu-Natal

Contact

Telephone: 031 311 1111
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.durban.gov.za
Address: City Hall, 263 Dr Pixley Ka Seme Street, Durban, 4000
Postal: PO Box 1014, Durban, 4000