Kgatelopele Local Municipality
Kgatelopele Local Municipality is a local municipality in Northern Cape, covering 2 478 square kilometres. It falls within the ZF Mgcawu District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Danielskuil and Lime Acres.
Census 2022 counted 19 854 residents, making it the 25th most populous of the 31 municipalities in Northern Cape and 249th of 257 nationally. That works out to 8.0 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 5 286 households, averaging 3.8 people each. 26.6% of residents are under 15 and 5.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 5.1% hold a higher education qualification and 7.6% have had no schooling.
The council has 9 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 5 seats (55.6%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mrs Irene Williams serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Adv Willie Blundin 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, Kgatelopele scores 44 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R120.3 million in operating revenue against R150.6 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R30.2 million. At the last census, 73.2% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.6% used electricity for lighting and 89.8% had refuse removed weekly.
Council and management
Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections
- ANC 5 55.6%
- DA 2 22.2%
- EFF 1 11.1%
- VF PLUS 1 11.1%
Office bearers
Finances
National Treasury, audited outcomes
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT OUTCOME | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Disclaimer of audit | Disclaimer of audit |
Financial performance
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property rates | 19 327 | 15 742 | 14 513 | 15 035 | 14 574 |
| Service charges | 62 554 | 34 852 | 47 399 | 43 438 | 39 203 |
| Investment revenue | 1 295 | 3 444 | 5 605 | 1 381 | 270 |
| Transfers recognised - operational | 40 595 | 38 448 | 35 663 | 32 251 | 40 236 |
| Other own revenue | -3 447 | 2 141 | 3 625 | 3 081 | 4 287 |
| Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions) | 120 325 | 94 626 | 106 804 | 95 185 | 98 569 |
| Employee costs | 48 328 | 43 957 | 42 910 | 40 326 | 37 522 |
| Remuneration of councillors | 5 229 | 5 147 | 4 707 | 3 687 | 2 418 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 23 092 | 24 611 | 16 198 | 39 758 | 17 601 |
| Finance charges | 5 214 | 2 974 | 2 674 | 1 723 | 904 |
| Inventory consumed and bulk purchases | 35 913 | 30 609 | 28 990 | 29 723 | 21 375 |
| Transfers and subsidies | - | - | - | - | 95 |
| Other expenditure | 32 796 | 47 483 | 44 991 | 30 192 | 28 534 |
| Total Expenditure | 150 572 | 154 781 | 140 471 | 145 410 | 108 450 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | -30 246 | -60 155 | -33 667 | -50 225 | -9 881 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations) | 60 256 | 125 473 | 57 773 | 58 357 | 34 426 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind) | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions | 30 010 | 65 318 | 24 105 | 8 132 | 24 545 |
| Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | 30 010 | 65 318 | 24 105 | 8 132 | 24 545 |
Capital expenditure & funds sources
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditure | 322 372 | 243 573 | 163 379 | 134 069 | 127 972 |
| Transfers recognised - capital | 111 910 | 70 058 | 11 029 | 11 634 | 7 863 |
| Borrowing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Internally generated funds | 209 888 | 173 516 | 152 349 | 122 435 | 117 661 |
| Total sources of capital funds | 321 798 | 243 573 | 163 379 | 134 069 | 125 524 |
Financial position
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total current assets | 132 537 | 64 284 | 138 368 | 138 998 | 53 192 |
| Total non current assets | 583 872 | 551 098 | 447 081 | 405 283 | 394 399 |
| Total current liabilities | 156 549 | 109 870 | 164 720 | 129 648 | 52 621 |
| Total non current liabilities | 2 210 | 1 960 | 5 886 | 8 700 | 5 395 |
| Community wealth/Equity | 527 641 | 438 234 | 390 738 | 397 801 | 365 031 |
Cash flows
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash from (used) operating | 38 817 | 28 261 | 22 418 | 11 904 | 6 984 |
| Net cash from (used) investing | 9 842 | -214 | -179 | -180 | -129 |
| Net cash from (used) financing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cash/cash equivalents at the year end | 53 516 | 32 904 | 27 097 | 16 581 | 11 712 |
Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised expenditure | - | 33 754 | - | 108 102 | - |
| Irregular expenditure | 1 643 | 636 | 11 602 | 12 927 | 2 293 |
| Fruitless & wasteful expenditure | 4 798 | 2 835 | 3 586 | 5 497 | 598 |
Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1
People
Statistics South Africa, Census
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 19 854 | 20 691 | 18 687 |
Age structure
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population under 15 | 26.6% | 27.9% | 29.5% |
| Population 15 to 64 | 68.2% | 67.7% | 66.4% |
| Population over 65 | 5.2% | 4.4% | 4.1% |
Dependency ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 (15-64) | 46.7 | 47.8 | 50.6 |
Sex ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males per 100 females | 98.3 | 102.5 | 102.8 |
Population growth
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per annum | 0.6% | 2.3% | n/a |
Labour market
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | n/a | n/a | 22.3 |
| Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 | n/a | n/a | 29.1 |
Education (aged 20 +)
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No schooling | 7.6% | 9.6% | 12.2% |
| Matric | n/a | 33.8 | 25.5 |
| Higher education | 5.1% | 6.6% | 8.4% |
Household dynamics
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 5 286 | 6 206 | 5 381 |
| Average household size | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| Female headed households | n/a | 31.5 | 29.7 |
| Formal dwellings | 90.5% | 87.9% | 89.7% |
| Housing owned | n/a | 60 | 36.1 |
Household services
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 94.9% | 91.2% | 93.2% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 89.8% | 91.7% | 91.7% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 73.2% | 67.4% | 74.4% |
| Electricity for lighting | 96.6% | 95.7% | 91.7% |
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 | 5 694 | 5 694 | 5 694 | 5 487 | 5 487 |
| Number of domestic households/delivery points | 5 522 | 5 522 | 5 522 | 5 315 | 5 315 |
| Inside the yard | 4 225 | 4 225 | 4 225 | 5 315 | 5 315 |
| Less than 200m from yard | 1 262 | 1 262 | 1 262 | 0 | 0 |
| More than 200m from yard | 35 | 35 | 35 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 1 993 | 1 993 | 1 591 | 1 746 | 1 354 |
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 | 4 776 | 4 776 | 4 776 | 4 467 | 4 467 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 1 707 | 1 707 | 1 591 | 1 746 | 1 354 |
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 | 6 140 | 6 140 | 6 140 | 4 270 | 4 270 |
| Flush toilet - public sewerage | 4 225 | 4 225 | 4 225 | 3 966 | 3 966 |
| Flush toilet - septic tank | 71 | 71 | 71 | 219 | 219 |
| Ventilated pit latrine | 1 781 | 1 781 | 1 781 | 0 | 0 |
| Bucket system | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 1 733 | 1 733 | 1 591 | 1 746 | 1 354 |
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 | 4 004 | 4 004 | 3 705 | 3 974 | 3 974 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 1 733 | 1 733 | 1 591 | 1 746 | 1 354 |
Staffing
National Treasury
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Costs (R’000) | 42 910 | 40 326 | 37 522 | n/a | 31 403 |
| Remuneration of councillors (R’000) | 4 707 | 3 687 | 2 418 | n/a | 2 568 |
| Total Employee Positions | 185 | 185 | 148 | 122 | 165 |
| Total Vacant Employee Positions | 37 | 37 | 0 | 3 | 38 |
| Total Vacancy Percentage | 20.0% | 20.0% | 0.0% | 2.5% | 23.0% |
| Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Managerial Positions - by organogram | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Published documents
Hosted by National Treasury