Mafube Local Municipality
Mafube Local Municipality is a local municipality in Free State, covering 3 977 square kilometres. It falls within the Fezile Dabi District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Cornelia, Frankfort, Tweeling and Villiers.
Census 2022 counted 61 150 residents, making it the 16th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 214th of 257 nationally. That works out to 15.4 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 16 896 households, averaging 3.6 people each. 26.0% of residents are under 15 and 7.4% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.2% hold a higher education qualification and 11.8% have had no schooling.
The council has 17 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 10 seats (58.8%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Tlhoare Motsoeneng serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms JB Selapyane 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, Mafube scores 13 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of F, described as critical. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R206.0 million in operating revenue against R512.3 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R306.3 million. At the last census, 48.8% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.4% used electricity for lighting and 71.1% had refuse removed weekly.
Council and management
Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections
- ANC 10 58.8%
- EFF 3 17.6%
- DA 2 11.8%
- VF PLUS 2 11.8%
Office bearers
Finances
National Treasury, audited outcomes
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT OUTCOME | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Qualified audit |
Financial performance
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property rates | -126 854 | -129 262 | 23 248 | 20 579 | 36 766 |
| Service charges | 91 214 | 88 142 | 80 528 | 71 536 | 73 337 |
| Investment revenue | 853 | 698 | 222 | 540 | 3 421 |
| Transfers recognised - operational | 140 519 | 131 522 | 111 503 | 111 939 | 127 562 |
| Other own revenue | 100 292 | 80 819 | 65 196 | 31 902 | 35 710 |
| Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions) | 206 024 | 171 919 | 280 696 | 236 496 | 276 795 |
| Employee costs | 106 951 | 110 025 | 101 225 | 109 203 | 103 086 |
| Remuneration of councillors | 6 579 | 6 641 | 6 292 | 6 247 | 6 296 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 58 864 | 67 386 | - | 46 562 | 53 620 |
| Finance charges | 64 162 | 81 252 | 235 | 54 566 | 51 541 |
| Inventory consumed and bulk purchases | 60 658 | 62 685 | 8 555 | 60 122 | 50 743 |
| Transfers and subsidies | 6 | - | 9 | 659 | 997 |
| Other expenditure | 215 124 | 253 261 | 31 339 | 170 290 | 131 496 |
| Total Expenditure | 512 344 | 581 250 | 147 656 | 447 650 | 397 779 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | -306 320 | -409 331 | 133 040 | -211 153 | -120 984 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations) | 44 185 | 18 206 | 60 983 | 32 761 | 42 881 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind) | - | - | - | 8 409 | 17 369 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions | -262 135 | -391 125 | 194 023 | -169 983 | -60 735 |
| Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | -262 135 | -391 125 | 194 023 | -169 983 | -60 735 |
Capital expenditure & funds sources
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditure | 45 041 | 36 078 | 28 951 | 21 290 | -2 179 |
| Transfers recognised - capital | 42 991 | 35 180 | 28 816 | 18 147 | -6 198 |
| Borrowing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Internally generated funds | 2 050 | 898 | 135 | 3 143 | 4 019 |
| Total sources of capital funds | 45 041 | 36 078 | 28 951 | 21 290 | -2 179 |
Financial position
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total current assets | 127 403 | -7 987 | 197 482 | 40 855 | 91 615 |
| Total non current assets | 972 235 | 954 968 | 1 244 905 | 1 215 954 | 1 085 164 |
| Total current liabilities | 1 275 127 | 1 146 479 | 918 821 | 927 267 | 766 518 |
| Total non current liabilities | 64 209 | 65 801 | 67 354 | 67 354 | 40 793 |
| Community wealth/Equity | 218 573 | 338 041 | 440 784 | 557 062 | 495 407 |
Cash flows
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash from (used) operating | -100 779 | -71 697 | 51 737 | 131 087 | 32 491 |
| Net cash from (used) investing | -43 876 | -37 631 | -17 734 | -21 564 | 1 902 |
| Net cash from (used) financing | 175 | - | - | - | - |
| Cash/cash equivalents at the year end | -295 565 | -254 248 | -116 191 | -36 875 | 34 463 |
Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised expenditure | 353 238 | 394 083 | 364 549 | 1 754 751 | 401 843 |
| Irregular expenditure | 26 491 | 30 040 | 25 997 | 73 164 | 82 158 |
| Fruitless & wasteful expenditure | 63 151 | 82 728 | 62 312 | 211 127 | 51 540 |
Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1
People
Statistics South Africa, Census
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 61 150 | 57 574 | 57 876 |
Age structure
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population under 15 | 26.0% | 28.2% | 31.6% |
| Population 15 to 64 | 66.6% | 64.6% | 62.1% |
| Population over 65 | 7.4% | 7.2% | 6.3% |
Dependency ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 (15-64) | 50.2 | 54.7 | 61.1 |
Sex ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males per 100 females | 88.5 | 93.6 | 92.5 |
Population growth
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per annum | 0.5% | -0.1% | n/a |
Labour market
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | n/a | n/a | 33.4 |
| Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 | n/a | n/a | 44.3 |
Education (aged 20 +)
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No schooling | 11.8% | 10.6% | 14.1% |
| Matric | n/a | 32.3 | 24.4 |
| Higher education | 6.2% | 6.3% | 6.1% |
Household dynamics
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 16 896 | 18 745 | 16 459 |
| Average household size | 3.6 | 3.1 | 3.5 |
| Female headed households | n/a | 44 | 42.2 |
| Formal dwellings | 84.7% | 78.8% | 70.8% |
| Housing owned | n/a | 78.5 | 67.8 |
Household services
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 95.4% | 79.1% | 79.0% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 71.1% | 87.9% | 80.2% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 48.8% | 32.3% | 39.8% |
| Electricity for lighting | 97.4% | 95.6% | 84.4% |
Service delivery
National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities
Water
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 23 204 | 23 050 | 23 050 | 22 486 | 21 101 |
| Number of domestic households/delivery points | 22 847 | 22 693 | 22 693 | 22 129 | 20 744 |
| Inside the yard | 20 898 | 20 744 | 20 744 | 20 434 | 19 049 |
| Less than 200m from yard | 1 000 | 1 000 | 1 000 | 1 695 | 1 695 |
| More than 200m from yard | 949 | 949 | 949 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 680 | 3 680 |
Electricity
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 20 844 | 20 792 | 20 792 | 20 792 | 20 278 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 680 | 3 680 |
Sewerage and sanitation
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 25 307 | 25 307 | 25 307 | 21 291 | 21 101 |
| Flush toilet - public sewerage | 20 434 | 20 434 | 20 434 | 20 434 | 20 434 |
| Flush toilet - septic tank | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Ventilated pit latrine | 3 016 | 1 390 | 1 390 | 0 | 0 |
| Bucket system | 1 490 | 3 116 | 3 116 | 490 | 300 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 680 | 3 680 |
Solid waste services
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Does the municipality provide? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided | 20 744 | 20 744 | 20 744 | 20 744 | 20 744 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 700 | 3 680 | 3 680 |
Staffing
National Treasury
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Costs (R’000) | 101 225 | 109 203 | 103 086 | 97 130 | 92 171 |
| Remuneration of councillors (R’000) | 6 292 | 6 247 | 6 296 | 6 086 | 5 905 |
| Total Employee Positions | 507 | 507 | 381 | 387 | 536 |
| Total Vacant Employee Positions | 126 | 126 | 0 | 0 | 72 |
| Total Vacancy Percentage | 24.9% | 24.9% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 13.4% |
| Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Managerial Positions - by organogram | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 18 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Published documents
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