MunicipalitiesSA

Kopanong Local Municipality

FS162 Local Free State Governed by ANC

51 832 Population Census 2022
15 648 Square kilometres 3.3 per km2
14 578 Households
17 Council seats

Kopanong Local Municipality is a local municipality in Free State, covering 15 648 square kilometres. It falls within the Xhariep District Municipality. It takes in 10 recognised towns and settlements, among them Bethulie, Edenburg, Fauresmith, Gariep Dam, Jagersfontein, Philippolis, Reddersburg, Springfontein.

Census 2022 counted 51 832 residents, making it the 20th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 224th of 257 nationally. That works out to 3.3 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 14 578 households, averaging 3.6 people each. 27.8% of residents are under 15 and 8.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 7.4% hold a higher education qualification and 10.2% have had no schooling.

The council has 17 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 11 seats (64.7%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Xolani Tseletsele serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr BC Mokomela 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, Kopanong scores 45.1 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 R1.2 billion in operating revenue against R625.2 million in expenditure, an operating surplus of R562.0 million. At the last census, 51.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.1% used electricity for lighting and 69.2% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 11
  • DA 3
  • EFF 2
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Xolani Tseletsele ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mr Morekiemang Jerry Moitse ANC
Chief Whip Ms Matana Ennie Masana
Municipal Manager Mr BC Mokomela Acting
Chief Financial Officer Mr Jabulani Makubu
Mayoral Committee n/a
Senior Management Ms C Pitso Head: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Malefetsane Makau Acting Head: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Marshall Madolo Acting Head: Technical Services
Communications Mr Solly Phama

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates54 62629 667n/an/an/a
Service charges225 861252 834n/an/an/a
Investment revenue169543n/an/an/a
Transfers recognised - operational113 917117 818n/an/an/a
Other own revenue792 5601 217n/an/an/a
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 187 133402 079n/an/an/a
Employee costs135 313152 287n/an/an/a
Remuneration of councillors7 5587 405n/an/an/a
Depreciation and amortisation45 43445 727n/an/an/a
Finance charges88 517106 859n/an/an/a
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases140 392116 718n/an/an/a
Transfers and subsidies--n/an/an/a
Other expenditure207 964151 778n/an/an/a
Total Expenditure625 179580 774n/an/an/a
Surplus/(Deficit)561 954-178 695n/an/an/a
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)19 33861 351n/an/an/a
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--n/an/an/a
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions581 292-117 344n/an/an/a
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate--n/an/an/a
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year581 292-117 344n/an/an/a

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure108 17921 768n/an/an/a
Transfers recognised - capital108 17921 818n/an/an/a
Borrowing--n/an/an/a
Internally generated funds--n/an/an/a
Total sources of capital funds108 17921 818n/an/an/a

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets306 010238 729n/an/an/a
Total non current assets998 256971 670n/an/an/a
Total current liabilities717 0691 276 477n/an/an/a
Total non current liabilities89 63775 192n/an/an/a
Community wealth/Equity-83 733-23 927n/an/an/a

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating84 6322 870n/an/an/a
Net cash from (used) investing-(342 631)n/an/an/a
Net cash from (used) financing--n/an/an/a
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end92 209-333 803n/an/an/a

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure8 765-126 308614 935n/a
Irregular expenditure6 7256 03810 837-n/a
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure110 33595 29275 696240 433n/a

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population51 83249 99949 171

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.8%26.0%29.7%
Population 15 to 6463.4%66.9%63.5%
Population over 658.8%7.1%6.8%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)57.849.557.4

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females90.198.596

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.5%0.4%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a27
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a33.6

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling10.2%10.7%13.4%
Matricn/a24.520.7
Higher education7.4%6.5%6.2%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households14 57818 41215 643
Average household size3.62.73.1
Female headed householdsn/a37.438.1
Formal dwellings94.6%89.2%91.4%
Housing ownedn/a58.450.8

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage96.0%80.1%85.5%
Weekly refuse removal69.2%69.8%76.5%
Piped water inside dwelling51.7%33.9%46.7%
Electricity for lighting97.1%94.2%92.6%

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 provided15 20215 20215 20215 19214 329
Number of domestic households/delivery points14 68114 68114 68114 68113 808
Inside the yard14 68114 68114 68114 68113 808
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 8411 8412 4742 4742 474

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided13 79013 79013 79013 79013 784
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 8411 8412 4742 4742 474

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided14 39414 39414 39014 39014 161
Flush toilet - public sewerage13 76813 76813 76413 76413 693
Flush toilet - septic tank00000
Ventilated pit latrine115115115115115
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 8411 8412 4742 4742 474

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided13 79513 79513 76113 76113 711
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 8411 8412 4742 4742 474

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)n/an/an/an/a109 170
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)n/an/an/an/a4 818
Total Employee Positions447447419458460
Total Vacant Employee Positions454572926
Total Vacancy Percentage10.1%10.1%1.7%6.3%5.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655222
Managerial Positions - by organogram1818181615
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00536

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans