MunicipalitiesSA

Lekwa Local Municipality

MP305 Local Mpumalanga Governed by Hung Council

119 669 Population Census 2022
4 594 Square kilometres 26.0 per km2
38 583 Households
30 Council seats

Lekwa Local Municipality is a local municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 4 594 square kilometres. It falls within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Morgenzon and Standerton.

Census 2022 counted 119 669 residents, making it the 15th most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 167th of 257 nationally. That works out to 26.0 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 38 583 households, averaging 3.1 people each. 24.4% of residents are under 15 and 5.9% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.4% hold a higher education qualification and 7.6% have had no schooling.

The council has 30 seats across 7 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 13 seats (43.3%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr S Mngemezulu serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa 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, Lekwa scores 30.8 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 R1.2 billion in operating revenue against R1.7 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R469.7 million. At the last census, 69.1% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.8% used electricity for lighting and 77.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 13
  • LCF 6
  • DA 4
  • EFF 3
  • VF PLUS 2
  • ATM 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr S Mngemezulu ANC
Speaker Ms Phindile Mahlaba EFF
Chief Whip Ms R Motloung
Municipal Manager Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa Acting
Chief Financial Officer Mr Khumbudzo Nemavhidi
Mayoral Committee Mr L Marago MMC: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Ms M Molaba MMC: Community Services and Safety
Mayoral Committee Ms M Mthimkhulu MMC: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr T Motaung MMC: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Ms TS Masondo MMC: Planning and Economic Development
Senior Management Mr M Jiyane HOD: Technical Service
Senior Management M Tladi Acting HOD: Planning and Economic Development
Senior Management Mr PE Mohlamonyane HOD: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms T Mtshiselwa HOD: Community Services and Safety
Communications Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates208 618190 214152 872170 255156 421
Service charges628 986566 100463 506508 037476 570
Investment revenue4 6844 1362 4841 7881 931
Transfers recognised - operational184 248173 957158 754139 953152 770
Other own revenue169 737341 94757 41679 07450 809
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 196 2731 276 354835 032899 108838 501
Employee costs341 128291 777283 203258 333239 009
Remuneration of councillors18 22214 74012 0867 51712 090
Depreciation and amortisation51 01063 21849 20757 04794 926
Finance charges133 626172 127151 56986 20299 693
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases703 616564 137496 444488 396470 558
Transfers and subsidies-1 15610 311--
Other expenditure418 400422 300412 831380 753310 428
Total Expenditure1 666 0021 529 4571 415 6531 278 2481 226 703
Surplus/(Deficit)-469 728-253 103-580 620-379 140-388 202
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)60 09945 93969 26224 93338 320
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)23 434245 42488 0901 15114 683
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-386 19538 260-423 268-353 056-335 198
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-386 19538 260-423 268-353 056-335 198

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure75 867144 53074 94835 11944 995
Transfers recognised - capital53 567129 72362 70320 64620 512
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds28 68729 3265 73535 4168 596
Total sources of capital funds82 254159 04868 43856 06229 108

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets1 753 8931 480 396804 934787 935646 481
Total non current assets2 382 3872 340 5912 066 0281 560 9691 193 468
Total current liabilities4 586 8273 894 3733 456 0413 020 7172 425 086
Total non current liabilities133 967124 936111 558256 606589 135
Community wealth/Equity-584 513-198 322-636 753-928 418-1 173 850

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating751 615394 123401 164508 2692 076 563
Net cash from (used) investing-76 535-67 541-54 930-37 050-23 309
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end690 078336 440356 991498 9821 107 190

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure156 234354 022242 9941 486 001233 469
Irregular expenditure873 94254 22361 815201 39340 751
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure147 454189 924309 844566 35511 519

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population119 669123 419115 662

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1524.4%26.5%28.6%
Population 15 to 6469.8%67.9%66.4%
Population over 655.9%5.6%5.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)43.347.250.6

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females95.1100.299.4

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.3%1.5%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a25.9
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a35.2

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling7.6%9.3%11.2%
Matricn/a2825.1
Higher education9.4%7.7%9.6%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households38 58337 33431 071
Average household size3.13.33.7
Female headed householdsn/a36.735.7
Formal dwellings88.5%77.5%73.6%
Housing ownedn/a64.350

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage91.4%85.7%85.8%
Weekly refuse removal77.7%65.8%82.2%
Piped water inside dwelling69.1%43.5%55.2%
Electricity for lighting94.8%90.8%88.6%

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 provided37 28035 01335 01334 30534 305
Number of domestic households/delivery points35 75033 48333 48332 77532 775
Inside the yard35 25730 45130 45130 45130 451
Less than 200m from yard4931 8321 8321 8321 832
More than 200m from yard01 2001 200492492
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 4221 8351 4201 4501 456

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided36 12834 90034 90032 99032 990
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 4221 8351 0251 4501 456

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided37 54136 40636 40635 04935 049
Flush toilet - public sewerage32 00129 62129 62129 62129 621
Flush toilet - septic tank293682682382382
Ventilated pit latrine1 8533 5163 5163 5163 516
Bucket system00000
Other1 8641 0571 05700
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 4221 8351 4201 4501 456

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided30 51830 51830 51825 94625 946
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 4221 8351 4201 4501 456

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)283 203258 333239 009238 547188 020
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)12 0867 51712 09020 88311 362
Total Employee Positions5431 0614975041 017
Total Vacant Employee Positions3153743516
Total Vacancy Percentage5.7%50.6%0.8%0.6%50.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666663
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5614430
Managerial Positions - by organogram3425252323
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00000

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans