MunicipalitiesSA

Joe Morolong Local Municipality

NC451 Local Northern Cape Governed by ANC

125 420 Population Census 2022
20 180 Square kilometres 6.2 per km2
26 537 Households
29 Council seats

Joe Morolong Local Municipality is a local municipality in Northern Cape, covering 20 180 square kilometres. It falls within the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Hotazel, Santoy and Van Zylsrus.

Census 2022 counted 125 420 residents, making it the 8th most populous of the 31 municipalities in Northern Cape and 165th of 257 nationally. That works out to 6.2 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 26 537 households, averaging 4.7 people each. 34.8% of residents are under 15 and 7.1% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 2.4% hold a higher education qualification and 15.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 29 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 18 seats (62.1%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Dineo Leutlwetse-Tshabalala serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mrs BD Motlhaping 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, Joe Morolong scores 32 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R336.5 million in operating revenue against R454.4 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R117.9 million. At the last census, 18.0% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.5% used electricity for lighting and 14.6% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 18
  • EFF 8
  • DA 1
  • F4SD 1
  • SARKO 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Dineo Leutlwetse-Tshabalala ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms Violet Jordan ANC
Chief Whip Mrs GC Tagane
Municipal Manager Mrs BD Motlhaping
Chief Financial Officer Mr O Ramukhuvhathi Acting
Mayoral Committee Mr BM Mbolekwa Chairperson: Finance, HR and Administration
Mayoral Committee Mr GG Koatsane Chairperson: Infrastructure Development
Mayoral Committee Mrs KN Tswere Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Mrs N Gomolemo Chairperson: Planning and Development
Mayoral Committee Mrs ND Kgosierileng Chairperson: Community Services
Senior Management Ms J Tsatsimpe Acting Director: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr P Moseki Director: Economic Development, Planning and Tourism
Senior Management Ms S Letselebe Acting Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Tatolo Gopetse Director: Corporate Services
Communications Ms Tlhompo Mancho

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditQualified auditDisclaimer of auditDisclaimer of auditDisclaimer of audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates48 65946 85934 02434 02447 551
Service charges27 20019 57849 08549 08522 259
Investment revenue4 7557 8426 2346 2342 092
Transfers recognised - operational200 982210 567181 475181 714167 803
Other own revenue54 88860 89715 45415 4547 013
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)336 485345 743286 272286 511246 718
Employee costs122 365116 12789 95690 03171 731
Remuneration of councillors14 97315 93413 63613 63611 650
Depreciation and amortisation133 412138 760122 519122 519123 019
Finance charges603538745760282
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases47 67146 07823 46823 46818 891
Transfers and subsidies9 0599 9531 40544317 188
Other expenditure126 291174 22590 115137 897356 824
Total Expenditure454 374501 615341 843388 754599 585
Surplus/(Deficit)-117 890-155 872-55 571-102 243-352 868
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)121 344127 888114 306121 534109 914
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)96 63282929211 096
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions100 087-27 90258 82719 383-231 858
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year100 087-27 90258 82719 383-231 858

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure352 204182 145115 822116 194218 078
Transfers recognised - capital164 90395 180104 858105 230191 972
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds187 30210 81810 96410 9647 868
Total sources of capital funds352 204105 998115 822116 194199 840

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets295 921217 086470 307199 541132 707
Total non current assets1 060 699892 7341 371 3061 367 3171 366 218
Total current liabilities101 14666 00273 38867 70661 027
Total non current liabilities16 09013 70612 2757 0425 437
Community wealth/Equity1 139 2961 058 0141 697 1221 472 7271 664 319

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-59 016-274 957-454 588731 477-291 996
Net cash from (used) investing-(2 561)(14 573)(14 573)(5 502)
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-41 142-242 562-412 492773 574-304 400

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure236 63068 26515 501592 447249
Irregular expenditure10 522138 84211 646167 0884 065
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure15 0414846364 936107

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population125 42084 20189 530

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1534.8%38.3%39.4%
Population 15 to 6458.0%54.8%54.2%
Population over 657.1%6.8%6.4%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)72.382.484.6

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females86.183.185.5

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum3.3%-1.4%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a38.6
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a49.5

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling15.0%15.3%22.8%
Matricn/a14.913.4
Higher education2.4%3.9%3.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households26 53723 91923 705
Average household size4.73.53.8
Female headed householdsn/a51.550.7
Formal dwellings88.6%80.1%72.5%
Housing ownedn/a82.152.5

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage16.3%5.4%7.3%
Weekly refuse removal14.6%4.0%6.1%
Piped water inside dwelling18.0%4.8%9.1%
Electricity for lighting94.5%84.2%81.8%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided26 41925 54725 54724 30024 300
Number of domestic households/delivery points26 18925 31725 31724 07024 070
Inside the yard4 0604 0604 0604 0604 060
Less than 200m from yard17 67916 80716 80715 56015 560
More than 200m from yard4 4504 4504 4504 4504 450
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 9951 9951 9951 9951 955

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided28 16428 16428 16428 09927 300
Domestic households with access to free basic service5 9905 9905 9905 9905 990

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided21 47221 18220 97919 84019 840
Flush toilet - public sewerage1 9101 9101 9101 9101 910
Flush toilet - septic tank30830830800
Ventilated pit latrine19 02418 73418 53117 70017 700
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service488488488488488

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided8778778771 2001 200
Domestic households with access to free basic service488488488488488

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)89 95690 03171 73163 57362 860
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)13 63613 63611 65012 01711 555
Total Employee Positions200187187203249
Total Vacant Employee Positions3331253
Total Vacancy Percentage1.5%1.6%1.6%5.9%21.3%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5622200
Managerial Positions - by organogram2525252518
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram111120

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans