MunicipalitiesSA

Kouga Local Municipality

EC108 Local Eastern Cape Governed by DA

107 014 Population Census 2022
2 670 Square kilometres 40.1 per km2
28 681 Households
30 Council seats

Kouga Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 2 670 square kilometres. It falls within the Sarah Baartman District Municipality. It takes in 9 recognised towns and settlements, among them Cape St Francis, Hankey, Humansdorp, Jeffreys Bay, Loerie, Oyster Bay, Patensie, St Francis Bay.

Census 2022 counted 107 014 residents, making it the 28th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 178th of 257 nationally. That works out to 40.1 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 28 681 households, averaging 3.7 people each. 21.3% of residents are under 15 and 14.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 16.1% hold a higher education qualification and 4.5% have had no schooling.

The council has 30 seats across 5 parties, with DA holding the largest share at 16 seats (53.3%). DA governs the municipality. Mr Hattingh Bornman serves as executive mayor (DA), and Mr Charl du Plessis 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, Kouga scores 69.4 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.3 billion in operating revenue against R1.4 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R96.6 million. At the last census, 72.2% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.9% used electricity for lighting and 86.0% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • DA 16
  • ANC 11
  • EFF 1
  • PA 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mr Hattingh Bornman DA
Deputy Mayor Mr Timothy Jantjes (MMC: Planning and Development) DA
Speaker Ms Lorraine Maree DA
Chief Whip Mr Daniel Benson MMC: Community and Safety Services
Municipal Manager Mr Charl du Plessis
Chief Financial Officer Mr Riaaz Lorgat
Mayoral Committee Mr Jaques Alexander MMC: Electro and Mechanical Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Melanie Nicholls MMC: Corporate and Communications Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Reinhardt Foley MMC: Civil and Water Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Shena Ruth MMC: Finance and Economic Development
Senior Management Mr Charles de Kock Director: Civil and Water Services
Senior Management Mr David de Jager Deputy Municipal Manager
Senior Management Mr Lawrence Ramakuwela Director: Planning and Development
Senior Management Ms Nomvula Machelesi Director: Community and Safety Services
Senior Management Mr Theodore Madatt Director: Electro and Mechanical Services
Communications Ms Monique Basson Manager: Media and Communication

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEClean auditClean auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates298 334280 203259 514224 326210 205
Service charges629 997585 321547 619470 854469 219
Investment revenue13 68912 9626 8243 2254 192
Transfers recognised - operational205 382198 630177 339153 880166 982
Other own revenue174 612132 581162 70598 97436 543
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 322 0151 209 6971 154 001951 260887 140
Employee costs418 731405 168364 306343 042335 334
Remuneration of councillors15 44314 85013 70013 39512 780
Depreciation and amortisation115 298101 469124 71898 21180 852
Finance charges13 82510 0388 0594 5873 422
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases521 483448 649382 970388 268325 733
Transfers and subsidies447920709458761
Other expenditure333 344339 031342 111234 522220 345
Total Expenditure1 418 5711 320 1251 236 5721 082 483979 228
Surplus/(Deficit)-96 556-110 428-82 571-131 223-92 088
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)109 31385 140102 22260 63046 787
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)15 00018 000---
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions27 757-7 28919 651-70 593-45 301
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year27 757-7 28919 651-70 593-45 301

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure219 47293 16121 480131 50525 728
Transfers recognised - capital103 7542 86084 93424 54241 388
Borrowing69 882-8 786--
Internally generated funds44 89190 10519 348105 860-7 061
Total sources of capital funds218 52792 965113 068130 40234 327

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets378 763265 064239 701255 718292 547
Total non current assets2 412 2452 313 0492 309 9692 317 8842 315 624
Total current liabilities364 097303 892262 588271 796245 872
Total non current liabilities368 452243 291248 841233 861175 959
Community wealth/Equity2 058 4592 030 9312 038 2402 067 9452 231 641

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating994 9621 592 2891 277 3651 647 5471 668 782
Net cash from (used) investing-130 825-83 038-71 169-57 909-3
Net cash from (used) financing96 582-12 169-10 582-250-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end1 104 3781 602 0171 223 4651 642 7821 809 811

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure34 760-92 828--
Irregular expenditure---3833 541
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure--1124138

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population107 014112 94198 558

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1521.3%30.1%26.8%
Population 15 to 6463.9%62.6%65.3%
Population over 6514.8%7.3%7.9%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)56.559.753.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females9097.697.2

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.8%3.1%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a21.5
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a26.7

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling4.5%3.8%4.9%
Matricn/a29.524.5
Higher education16.1%5.5%9.3%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households28 68135 23629 447
Average household size3.73.23.3
Female headed householdsn/a37.835.4
Formal dwellings84.7%75.0%76.1%
Housing ownedn/a50.951.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage84.7%74.0%75.8%
Weekly refuse removal86.0%82.5%83.5%
Piped water inside dwelling72.2%57.9%60.4%
Electricity for lighting96.9%86.3%86.9%

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 provided33 77731 32831 32829 44729 447
Number of domestic households/delivery points31 72730 13630 13628 25528 255
Inside the yard31 72730 13630 13628 25528 255
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 5587 1387 0816 9596 133

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided30 40230 26330 26330 26330 236
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 4267 0147 0816 9596 133

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided35 42234 99834 99834 32634 326
Flush toilet - public sewerage20 16918 18618 18618 18618 186
Flush toilet - septic tank9 8039 8039 8039 9089 908
Ventilated pit latrine420420420420420
Bucket system2 8754 3414 3414 3414 341
Other9631 0561 056279279
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 5587 1387 0816 9596 133

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided32 24832 24832 12830 03230 032
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 5587 1387 0816 9596 133

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)364 306343 042335 334293 708274 158
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)13 70013 39512 78012 87612 202
Total Employee Positions1 0561 096998935944
Total Vacant Employee Positions100116
Total Vacancy Percentage0.1%0.0%0.0%0.1%1.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610010
Managerial Positions - by organogram2121212133
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00001

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans