Matjhabeng Local Municipality
439 034
Population
Census 2022
5 690
Square kilometres
77.2 per km2
126 068
Households
71
Council seats
Matjhabeng Local Municipality is a local municipality in Free State, covering 5 690 square kilometres. It falls within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Allanridge, Hennenman, Odendaalsrus, Ventersburg, Virginia and Welkom.
Census 2022 counted 439 034 residents, making it the 5th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 59th of 257 nationally. That works out to 77.2 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 126 068 households, averaging 3.5 people each. 26.8% of residents are under 15 and 6.3% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 10.1% hold a higher education qualification and 3.3% have had no schooling.
The council has 71 seats across 8 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 39 seats (54.9%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Thanduxolo Khalipha serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Thabo Panyani 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, Matjhabeng scores 15.8 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 R3.7 billion in operating revenue against R5.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R1.4 billion. At the last census, 61.4% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.0% used electricity for lighting and 64.5% had refuse removed weekly.
Council and management
Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections
- ANC 39 54.9%
- DA 16 22.5%
- EFF 8 11.3%
- ADEC 2 2.8%
- ISANCO 2 2.8%
- VF PLUS 2 2.8%
- ATM 1 1.4%
- COPE 1 1.4%
Office bearers
Mayor
Mr Thanduxolo Khalipha
ANC
Deputy Mayor
n/a
Speaker
Mr Bekhumzi Stofile
ANC
Chief Whip
Ms Maramane Lilian Setabela
Municipal Manager
Mr Thabo Panyani
Acting
Chief Financial Officer
Mr Thabo Panyane
Mayoral Committee
Mr Hlobohang Mokhomo
MMC: Finance
Mayoral Committee
Ms Kabotsa Moipatle
MMC: Sports, Arts and Culture
Mayoral Committee
Mr Kgoarai Tlake
MMC: Community Services and Public Safety
Mayoral Committee
Mrs MC Matinte
MMC: Human Settlement, Land Use Management and Spatial Planning
Mayoral Committee
Ms Mojabeng Lydia Radebe
MMC: IDP and PME
Mayoral Committee
Mr Mojalefa Buti
MMC: LED, Small Business, Agriculture and Tourism
Mayoral Committee
Ms Nomthandazo Monjovo
MMC: Special Programmes
Mayoral Committee
Mr Sabata Moshoeu
MMC: Corporate Services and Good Governance
Mayoral Committee
Mr Sanekane Ramalefane
MMC: Fleet, Disaster Management and Service Delivery
Mayoral Committee
Ms Xolile Masina
MMC: Infrastructure and Technical Service
Senior Management
Mrs Lauretta Williams
Executive Director: Community Support Services
Senior Management
Mrs Morakane Mothekhe
Executive Director: Human Settlements
Senior Management
Dr Sefako Ramphuma
Executive Director: LED
Senior Management
Dr Vuyo Adonis
Executive Director: Corporate Services
Communications
Mr Obed Notsi
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 | 504 331 | 824 092 | 408 090 | 443 340 | 424 353 |
| Service charges | 1 737 961 | 1 638 122 | 1 405 406 | 1 368 573 | 1 331 762 |
| Investment revenue | 5 592 | 5 836 | 10 318 | 2 390 | 815 |
| Transfers recognised - operational | 738 185 | 691 284 | 636 815 | 569 972 | 632 601 |
| Other own revenue | 695 445 | 584 975 | 457 667 | 287 198 | 309 916 |
| Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions) | 3 681 515 | 3 744 309 | 2 918 296 | 2 671 474 | 2 699 447 |
| Employee costs | 1 122 585 | 992 503 | 1 005 242 | 874 723 | 833 734 |
| Remuneration of councillors | 9 590 | 10 216 | 9 512 | 16 349 | 28 671 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 248 021 | 62 787 | 250 766 | 241 822 | 233 601 |
| Finance charges | 147 453 | 242 872 | 332 178 | 173 475 | 108 812 |
| Inventory consumed and bulk purchases | 1 731 258 | 1 098 559 | 1 278 116 | 1 285 160 | 1 279 770 |
| Transfers and subsidies | - | - | 753 | 1 194 | 1 528 |
| Other expenditure | 1 815 304 | 1 699 282 | 1 413 765 | 1 500 438 | 1 658 224 |
| Total Expenditure | 5 074 210 | 4 106 219 | 4 290 332 | 4 093 163 | 4 144 340 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | -1 392 696 | -361 910 | -1 372 037 | -1 421 689 | -1 444 893 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations) | 196 888 | 191 831 | 126 604 | 99 264 | 157 742 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind) | 32 000 | - | 4 217 | 44 552 | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions | -1 163 808 | -170 079 | -1 241 216 | -1 277 874 | -1 287 151 |
| Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | -1 163 808 | -170 079 | -1 241 216 | -1 277 874 | -1 287 151 |
Capital expenditure & funds sources
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditure | 157 446 | 173 550 | 253 667 | 155 878 | 90 009 |
| Transfers recognised - capital | 145 316 | 147 102 | 121 184 | 89 040 | 80 376 |
| Borrowing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Internally generated funds | 12 130 | 26 448 | 132 484 | 24 838 | 9 634 |
| Total sources of capital funds | 157 446 | 173 550 | 253 667 | 113 878 | 90 009 |
Financial position
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total current assets | 5 161 038 | 4 962 855 | 4 140 930 | 3 963 092 | 3 500 734 |
| Total non current assets | 5 573 079 | 5 614 978 | 5 536 004 | 5 796 232 | 5 153 475 |
| Total current liabilities | 13 676 975 | 15 740 817 | 14 319 017 | 12 934 210 | 11 338 641 |
| Total non current liabilities | 3 500 226 | - | - | - | - |
| Community wealth/Equity | -4 923 027 | -4 004 705 | -2 464 093 | -3 172 459 | -2 684 432 |
Cash flows
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash from (used) operating | -2 005 312 | -1 007 848 | -1 158 592 | -665 162 | 1 128 964 |
| Net cash from (used) investing | -132 036 | -173 550 | -253 667 | -113 878 | -51 840 |
| Net cash from (used) financing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Cash/cash equivalents at the year end | -2 092 608 | -1 054 861 | -1 208 753 | -713 820 | 1 135 923 |
Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised expenditure | 946 317 | 1 048 404 | 1 067 577 | 2 277 614 | 1 274 087 |
| Irregular expenditure | 95 826 | 123 756 | 175 129 | 307 923 | 453 551 |
| Fruitless & wasteful expenditure | 151 742 | 239 024 | 341 571 | 311 569 | 105 472 |
Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1
People
Statistics South Africa, Census
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 439 034 | 429 113 | 407 020 |
Age structure
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population under 15 | 26.8% | 25.0% | 27.3% |
| Population 15 to 64 | 66.8% | 70.2% | 68.1% |
| Population over 65 | 6.3% | 4.8% | 4.7% |
Dependency ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 (15-64) | 49.7 | 42.4 | 46.9 |
Sex ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males per 100 females | 92.1 | 101.2 | 98.3 |
Population growth
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per annum | 0.7% | 1.2% | n/a |
Labour market
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Education (aged 20 +)
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No schooling | 3.3% | 3.0% | 4.6% |
| Matric | n/a | 33.8 | 27.2 |
| Higher education | 10.1% | 7.9% | 8.6% |
Household dynamics
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 126 068 | 149 163 | 123 382 |
| Average household size | 3.5 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| Female headed households | n/a | 39.3 | 39.8 |
| Formal dwellings | 88.1% | 84.5% | 78.5% |
| Housing owned | n/a | 71.5 | 58.5 |
Household services
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 87.1% | 84.6% | 81.9% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 64.5% | 72.7% | 86.1% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 61.4% | 53.3% | 54.8% |
| Electricity for lighting | 95.0% | 94.7% | 91.1% |
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 | 139 889 | 136 789 | 111 487 | 110 921 | 110 921 |
| Number of domestic households/delivery points | 134 610 | 131 510 | 105 195 | 105 195 | 105 195 |
| Inside the yard | 134 610 | 131 510 | 102 358 | 102 358 | 102 358 |
| Less than 200m from yard | 0 | 0 | 2 837 | 2 837 | 2 837 |
| More than 200m from yard | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 21 786 | 20 729 | 18 984 | 17 802 | 17 777 |
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 | 114 481 | 92 731 | 92 731 | 92 257 | 91 444 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 21 786 | 20 729 | 18 984 | 17 802 | 17 777 |
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 | 140 689 | 132 310 | 100 673 | 94 962 | 90 208 |
| Flush toilet - public sewerage | 134 610 | 126 231 | 69 381 | 69 381 | 87 250 |
| Flush toilet - septic tank | 0 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 0 |
| Ventilated pit latrine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bucket system | 800 | 800 | 800 | 4 754 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 24 140 | 17 869 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 21 786 | 20 729 | 18 984 | 17 802 | 17 777 |
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 | 120 472 | 112 480 | 112 480 | 112 480 | 112 480 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 21 786 | 20 729 | 18 984 | 17 802 | 17 777 |
Staffing
National Treasury
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Costs (R’000) | 1 005 242 | 874 723 | 833 734 | 699 827 | 707 492 |
| Remuneration of councillors (R’000) | 9 512 | 16 349 | 28 671 | 30 274 | 31 771 |
| Total Employee Positions | 2 098 | 1 926 | 1 907 | 2 051 | 3 859 |
| Total Vacant Employee Positions | 1 | 14 | 0 | 11 | 1 548 |
| Total Vacancy Percentage | 0.1% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.5% | 40.1% |
| Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Managerial Positions - by organogram | 68 | 68 | 54 | 54 | 67 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
Published documents
Hosted by National Treasury