MunicipalitiesSA

Gert Sibande District Municipality

DC30 District Mpumalanga Governed by n/a

1 283 459 Population Census 2022
31 840 Square kilometres 40.3 per km2
378 182 Households
18 Council seats Coalition governed

Gert Sibande District Municipality is a district municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 31 840 square kilometres. It coordinates 7 local municipalities: Albert Luthuli, Dipaleseng, Pixley Ka Seme (MP), Govan Mbeki, Lekwa, Mkhondo and Msukaligwa. It takes in 28 recognised towns and settlements, among them Amersfoort, Balfour, Bethal, Breyten, Carolina, Charl Cilliers, Chrissiesmeer, Davel.

Census 2022 counted 1 283 459 residents, making it the 3rd most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 14th of 257 nationally. That works out to 40.3 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 378 182 households, averaging 3.4 people each. 27.3% of residents are under 15 and 5.1% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.6% hold a higher education qualification and 10.3% have had no schooling.

The council has 18 seats across 3 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 11 seats (61.1%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Mr Mathukuthela W Mngomezulu serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Cijimpi Absenia Habile 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, Gert Sibande scores 77 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R695.1 million in operating revenue against R684.9 million in expenditure, an operating surplus of R10.1 million. At the last census, 56.5% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 91.8% used electricity for lighting and 66.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 11
  • EFF 4
  • DA 3

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Mathukuthela W Mngomezulu ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms BG Sekhonde ANC
Chief Whip Mr Bhekabantu Mtshali
Municipal Manager Mr Cijimpi Absenia Habile
Chief Financial Officer Mr Oupa Hlophe
Mayoral Committee Ms Banana Mollo MMC: Monitoring and Evaluation
Mayoral Committee Mr Bethuel Zunguza MMC: Finance
Mayoral Committee Mr Bheki Michael Buthelezi MMC: Planning and Economic Development and Innovation
Mayoral Committee Mrs Busisiwe Mkhwanazi MMC: Special Projects
Mayoral Committee Mrs Flora Maboa Boltman MMC: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Noliqhwa S Nhlapho MPAC Chairperson
Mayoral Committee Mrs Nomkhosi Zulu MMC: Community and Social Service
Mayoral Committee Mr Phalaborwa Malatsi MMC: Infrastructure and Technical Services
Senior Management Mr B Mdutyulwa Infrastructure and Technical Services
Senior Management Mr M Madonsela Acting General Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Melato Michele General Manager: Community and Social Services
Senior Management Ms P Chiloane Planning, Economic, Development and Innovation
Communications Ms Bongiwe Dube Manager: Communications

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedClean audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates-----
Service charges3 1593 4753 00188110
Investment revenue21 73223 49425 11211 9109 118
Transfers recognised - operational622 041792 152763 464808 002317 672
Other own revenue48 16525 60023 28711 67513 014
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)695 097844 721814 864831 676339 914
Employee costs231 270215 525200 849189 530190 015
Remuneration of councillors15 06714 95414 46113 34013 596
Depreciation and amortisation22 08222 70423 60524 09423 423
Finance charges1 6901 5794 6209 0481 064
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases3 4132 2352 5263 3593 599
Transfers and subsidies281 777460 303439 624532 62824 571
Other expenditure129 650109 468103 408111 93097 015
Total Expenditure684 948826 769789 093883 929353 282
Surplus/(Deficit)10 15017 95225 771-52 253-13 369
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)4 9532 4852 4762 3652 334
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-73-22 301-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions15 10220 51028 247-27 587-11 035
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year15 10220 51028 247-27 587-11 035

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure2 67610 1996 4235 59014 739
Transfers recognised - capital-----
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds-----
Total sources of capital funds-----

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets350 515332 865297 145298 484242 947
Total non current assets259 565270 412282 053299 951297 194
Total current liabilities250 730260 534203 649250 087107 248
Total non current liabilities693-78570 09571 14051 449
Community wealth/Equity358 678344 066305 454328 042381 520

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating674 977652 946278 808457 798293 754
Net cash from (used) investing----29
Net cash from (used) financing----(1)
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end842 860896 634534 759644 628448 923

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-----
Irregular expenditure-67 94062 863--
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure--25 624--

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population1 283 4591 135 4091 043 194

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.3%29.3%31.6%
Population 15 to 6467.6%65.8%63.9%
Population over 655.1%4.9%4.5%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)47.951.956.5

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females93.298.697.3

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.0%1.9%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a29.7
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a38.4

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling10.3%10.8%13.3%
Matricn/a32.427.9
Higher education6.6%7.9%8.6%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households378 182333 815273 485
Average household size3.43.43.8
Female headed householdsn/a39.138.8
Formal dwellings88.0%78.0%72.4%
Housing ownedn/a59.550.6

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage73.2%67.1%66.0%
Weekly refuse removal66.8%54.3%63.6%
Piped water inside dwelling56.5%34.3%44.3%
Electricity for lighting91.8%88.5%83.4%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Number of domestic households/delivery points00000
Inside the yard00000
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Flush toilet - public sewerage00000
Flush toilet - septic tank00000
Ventilated pit latrine00000
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)200 849189 530190 015173 333154 723
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)14 46113 34013 59613 63512 762
Total Employee Positions374371402408353
Total Vacant Employee Positions151547550
Total Vacancy Percentage4.0%4.0%11.7%13.5%0.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610000
Managerial Positions - by organogram676411011055
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram1047550

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans