MunicipalitiesSA

King Cetshwayo District Municipality

DC28 District KwaZulu-Natal Governed by IFP

1 021 344 Population Census 2022
8 214 Square kilometres 124.3 per km2
205 739 Households
17 Council seats

King Cetshwayo District Municipality is a district municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 8 214 square kilometres. It coordinates 5 local municipalities: uMhlathuze, Mthonjaneni, Nkandla, Mfolozi and uMlalazi. It takes in 9 recognised towns and settlements, among them Empangeni, Eshowe, KwaGingindlovu, KwaMbonambi, Mtunzini, Nkandla, Ntambanana, Richards Bay.

Census 2022 counted 1 021 344 residents, making it the 3rd most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 18th of 257 nationally. That works out to 124.3 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 205 739 households, averaging 5.0 people each. 29.9% of residents are under 15 and 5.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.5% hold a higher education qualification and 12.7% have had no schooling.

The council has 17 seats across 3 parties, with IFP holding the largest share at 9 seats (52.9%). IFP governs the municipality. Mr Sikhumbuzo Zephania Dlamini serves as executive mayor (IFP), and Mr Philani P Sibiya 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, King Cetshwayo scores 72 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R912.5 million in operating revenue against R1.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R195.0 million. At the last census, 42.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.8% used electricity for lighting and 39.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • IFP 9
  • ANC 7
  • DA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Sikhumbuzo Zephania Dlamini IFP
Deputy Mayor Ms Philile P Xulu IFP
Speaker Ms Siphesihle H Mkhwanazi IFP
Chief Whip Mr AM Mtshali
Municipal Manager Mr Philani P Sibiya
Chief Financial Officer Mrs Cheryl Reddy
Mayoral Committee IN Zwane Portfolio Chairperson: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr M Mtshali Chairperson: MPAC
Mayoral Committee Ms NM Madida Exco
Mayoral Committee Ms Pinky Cele Exco
Mayoral Committee Mr S Magubane Exco
Mayoral Committee SW Mgenge Exco
Senior Management Mr Brian Masondo Deputy Municipal Manager: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Richard Mazibuko Deputy Municipal Manager: Planning and Economic Development
Senior Management Mr SB Sibisi Deputy Municipal Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Zenzele Ndlovu Deputy Municipal Manager: Technical Services
Communications Mr Thami Shangase Manager: Public Relations and Communications

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEClean auditClean auditClean auditClean auditClean audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates-----
Service charges109 290103 461111 653102 01095 978
Investment revenue29 48930 03725 80219 31217 455
Transfers recognised - operational748 716728 047714 722645 298641 776
Other own revenue24 97743 49318 3069 8728 402
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)912 471905 038870 483776 492763 611
Employee costs347 308330 090301 719261 550234 607
Remuneration of councillors15 69614 98715 27412 01412 297
Depreciation and amortisation102 928122 258112 837109 069106 706
Finance charges8 2688 53614 8829 7626 976
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases232 987219 395154 065159 111152 904
Transfers and subsidies1 6243 7002 400--
Other expenditure398 618368 298407 907398 979416 693
Total Expenditure1 107 4291 067 2631 009 084950 486930 183
Surplus/(Deficit)-194 957-162 225-138 601-173 995-166 572
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)463 231449 278421 043222 406257 649
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-10 7871 649--
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions268 274297 840284 09248 41191 077
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year268 274297 840284 09248 41191 077

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure452 400431 406403 578209 546239 964
Transfers recognised - capital402 810390 677366 166193 517225 911
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds49 59040 72937 41116 02914 053
Total sources of capital funds452 400431 406403 578209 546239 964

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets395 592372 892361 335492 912405 627
Total non current assets3 807 3603 464 6213 140 7732 912 8002 776 475
Total current liabilities328 373264 165226 481352 126219 976
Total non current liabilities117 14794 58197 815136 075102 099
Community wealth/Equity3 878 0453 478 7663 289 6422 991 8242 860 028

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating3 415 7041 647 870233 8532 657 1412 177 931
Net cash from (used) investing-437 548-423 946-403 599-209 610-239 935
Net cash from (used) financing-(6 286)6 2869 564-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end3 114 3171 352 157208 5222 748 0792 439 415

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure----20 034
Irregular expenditure---22 65330 929
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure---873887

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population1 021 344971 135907 519

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1529.9%39.9%34.8%
Population 15 to 6464.6%55.9%60.7%
Population over 655.5%4.2%4.5%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)54.978.864.7

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females89.889.989

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.2%1.5%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a34.7
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a44.4

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling12.7%13.3%16.0%
Matricn/a3630.1
Higher education9.5%9.2%8.2%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households205 739225 797202 971
Average household size54.34.5
Female headed householdsn/a49.848.9
Formal dwellings87.4%70.6%70.0%
Housing ownedn/a79.751.8

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage45.0%27.4%31.7%
Weekly refuse removal39.9%27.3%29.6%
Piped water inside dwelling42.3%26.9%30.5%
Electricity for lighting97.8%91.6%75.8%

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 provided84 23582 92881 33380 99080 720
Number of domestic households/delivery points81 08279 77578 18077 83777 567
Inside the yard25 77324 46622 87122 52822 258
Less than 200m from yard55 30955 30955 30955 30955 309
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service6422 6663 5963 22014 289

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?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided124 500120 991117 027115 178112 820
Flush toilet - public sewerage18 06516 19614 60112 75212 752
Flush toilet - septic tank874874874874874
Ventilated pit latrine103 203101 56399 19499 19496 836
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service5951 1352 2822 28214 289

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)301 719261 550234 607235 323228 897
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)15 27412 01412 29712 96311 679
Total Employee Positions596540504498512
Total Vacant Employee Positions6474562331
Total Vacancy Percentage10.7%13.7%11.1%4.6%6.1%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677777
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5623211
Managerial Positions - by organogram7171714059
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram9054223

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans