MunicipalitiesSA

Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality

LIM355 Local Limpopo Governed by ANC

284 404 Population Census 2022
3 484 Square kilometres 81.6 per km2
78 217 Households
60 Council seats

Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality is a local municipality in Limpopo, covering 3 484 square kilometres. It falls within the Capricorn District Municipality. Its main centre is Zebediela.

Census 2022 counted 284 404 residents, making it the 16th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 85th of 257 nationally. That works out to 81.6 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 78 217 households, averaging 3.6 people each. 32.7% of residents are under 15 and 8.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 10.9% hold a higher education qualification and 12.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 60 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 40 seats (66.7%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms Meriam Molala serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mrs MA Monyepao 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, Lepelle-Nkumpi scores 76.6 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R536.2 million in operating revenue against R394.4 million in expenditure, an operating surplus of R141.8 million. At the last census, 36.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.7% used electricity for lighting and 32.3% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 40
  • EFF 12
  • DOP 4
  • DA 2
  • LEBCO 1
  • MSM 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms Meriam Molala ANC
Speaker Ms Ngwanakoane Joyce Nkoabela ANC
Chief Whip Mr Seriting Given Sello
Municipal Manager Mrs MA Monyepao
Chief Financial Officer Ms Dorothy Diale
Mayoral Committee Mrs DP Mazwi Portfolio Head: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Mr MB Makgahlele Portfolio Head: Roads, Transport and Electricity
Mayoral Committee Mr MD Matsimela Portfolio Head: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mrs PE Ledwaba Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Mrs RO Molomo Portfolio Head: Land, LED, Planning and Housing
Mayoral Committee Ms RTF Nkoana Portfolio Head: Water and Sanitation
Senior Management n/a
Communications Ms Mokgadi Maubane

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified auditFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates46 77243 10738 96530 52131 750
Service charges7 7727 4196 8035 8136 433
Investment revenue52 10544 84225 81012 8138 579
Transfers recognised - operational340 651321 887304 330279 615322 419
Other own revenue88 85770 04770 44484 76264 628
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)536 157487 302446 351413 523433 810
Employee costs103 41898 49699 65692 32796 320
Remuneration of councillors25 17724 02523 10322 40722 365
Depreciation and amortisation31 03831 30630 57629 52430 574
Finance charges-----
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases2 2511 6991 8931 8362 432
Transfers and subsidies-----
Other expenditure232 482204 050215 680254 603382 500
Total Expenditure394 366359 577370 908400 699534 191
Surplus/(Deficit)141 791127 72575 44312 825-100 382
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)72 94327 17639 68450 79235 108
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions214 733154 901115 12763 617-65 274
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year214 733154 901115 12763 617-65 274

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure4001 196056 71045 471
Transfers recognised - capital168 617--42 54931 532
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds4001 196014 16213 939
Total sources of capital funds169 0171 196056 71045 471

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets952 776890 130706 668586 297548 794
Total non current assets1 095 951989 0611 005 315998 507965 818
Total current liabilities266 816311 363298 827289 135286 050
Total non current liabilities238238238238238
Community wealth/Equity1 839 7511 567 5901 412 9181 295 4311 332 885

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating261 206484 456350 785204 466537 695
Net cash from (used) investing31 1063 4120-56 710-186 509
Net cash from (used) financing-22-12---
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end1 019 2521 034 599755 207442 754469 142

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure323-3 511290 759257 157
Irregular expenditure43 56556 12372 64834 22110 253
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure12-409 141244

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population284 404235 380231 239

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1532.7%36.7%36.0%
Population 15 to 6458.8%56.3%56.2%
Population over 658.5%7.0%7.8%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)7077.677.9

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females87.283.383.5

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.0%0.4%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/an/a
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/an/a

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling12.4%15.6%18.4%
Matricn/a26.622.1
Higher education10.9%8.1%10.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households78 21761 30559 885
Average household size3.63.83.9
Female headed householdsn/a56.356
Formal dwellings97.1%89.3%94.5%
Housing ownedn/a78.467.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage34.7%18.1%19.1%
Weekly refuse removal32.3%21.8%20.4%
Piped water inside dwelling36.7%13.9%19.3%
Electricity for lighting96.7%97.1%91.9%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Number of domestic households/delivery points00000
Inside the yard00000
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided54 91754 91754 51754 51754 517
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 0408 6468 6468 6468 427

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Flush toilet - public sewerage00000
Flush toilet - septic tank00000
Ventilated pit latrine00000
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided19 74719 74719 74719 74719 747
Domestic households with access to free basic service408408408408619

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)99 65692 32796 32098 21796 410
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)23 10322 40722 36522 23221 434
Total Employee Positions261223212215248
Total Vacant Employee Positions251371031
Total Vacancy Percentage9.6%5.8%3.3%4.7%12.5%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5651344
Managerial Positions - by organogram1919151717
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram70460

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans