MunicipalitiesSA

Mbhashe Local Municipality

EC121 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

240 020 Population Census 2022
3 303 Square kilometres 72.7 per km2
52 715 Households
63 Council seats

Mbhashe Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 3 303 square kilometres. It falls within the Amathole District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Dutywa, Elliotdale and Willowvale.

Census 2022 counted 240 020 residents, making it the 14th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 97th of 257 nationally. That works out to 72.7 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 52 715 households, averaging 4.6 people each. 33.4% of residents are under 15 and 9.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 5.6% hold a higher education qualification and 16.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 63 seats across 9 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 45 seats (71.4%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Samkelo Nicholas Janda serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Mkhululi Nako 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, Mbhashe scores 79.1 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 R469.9 million in operating revenue against R405.4 million in expenditure, an operating surplus of R64.5 million. At the last census, 26.7% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 90.5% used electricity for lighting and 26.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 45
  • UDM 8
  • EFF 4
  • ATA 1
  • ATM 1
  • BPM 1
  • DA 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1
  • PAC 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Samkelo Nicholas Janda ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms Babalwa Majavu ANC
Chief Whip Mr Ludwe Mantshiyose
Municipal Manager Mr Mkhululi Nako
Chief Financial Officer Mr Vuyo Jam Jam
Mayoral Committee Ms Fikiswa Ndaule Portfolio Head: Good Governance and Public Participation
Mayoral Committee Ms Mirriam Kungeka Makapela Portfolio Head: Infrastructure
Mayoral Committee Ms Nolumanyano Ngomthi Portfolio Head: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Nolundi Gxamtwana Portfolio Head: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Ms Nombongo Apleni Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury Office
Mayoral Committee Ms Nomvuyiseko Mgedezi Portfolio Head: Developmental Planning
Senior Management Ms Misiwe Mpahlwa Operations
Senior Management Ms Nonurse Mlungu Community Services
Senior Management Ms Ntombizodwa Nkuhlu Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Sikhusele Cobokana Developmental Planning
Senior Management Mr Zukile Msipha Infrastructure Services
Communications Ms Babalwa Magqwanti Communications Manager/Spokesperson

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates21 09920 43219 99116 24211 637
Service charges3 8943 7303 4912 6383 491
Investment revenue45 35440 17226 19811 6155 717
Transfers recognised - operational382 941363 246328 241281 001332 729
Other own revenue16 60613 51310 29311 67510 554
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)469 893441 094388 214323 171364 129
Employee costs149 248139 164126 011131 226141 540
Remuneration of councillors24 07623 22723 49213 1957 449
Depreciation and amortisation67 76556 68857 73364 93755 743
Finance charges1821982205
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases--1(162)143
Transfers and subsidies---5-
Other expenditure164 298183 931136 629104 067105 665
Total Expenditure405 405403 032343 874313 350310 745
Surplus/(Deficit)64 48838 06244 3399 82153 384
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)79 34485 236103 22548 15158 065
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions143 833123 298147 56457 972111 449
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year143 833123 298147 56457 972111 449

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure1 390 6301 312 6471 207 3761 116 2751 072 988
Transfers recognised - capital109 789134 265100 38537 10347 012
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds1 279 7001 176 4631 106 9911 079 03244 775
Total sources of capital funds1 389 4881 310 7291 207 3761 116 13591 787

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets499 411422 582324 675183 449232 857
Total non current assets762 157696 755668 819656 108664 862
Total current liabilities19 66121 21111 2034 733108 142
Total non current liabilities-----
Community wealth/Equity1 098 074974 829834 728776 852566 679

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating50 62939 28031 24844 67010 280
Net cash from (used) investing55----
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end72 12460 67752 64444 66810 278

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-----
Irregular expenditure21 9712 33212 7966 04321 120
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure218240910 995205

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population240 020277 250261 670

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1533.4%35.8%38.0%
Population 15 to 6457.1%59.0%53.8%
Population over 659.6%5.2%8.2%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)75.369.685.8

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females86.286.385

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-0.8%1.3%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 schooling16.0%15.6%21.4%
Matricn/a13.710
Higher education5.6%4.5%4.9%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households52 71558 72761 893
Average household size4.64.74.2
Female headed householdsn/a57.158.3
Formal dwellings69.2%41.1%30.6%
Housing ownedn/a68.373.3

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage26.5%3.0%4.4%
Weekly refuse removal26.8%10.9%3.0%
Piped water inside dwelling26.7%3.3%3.4%
Electricity for lighting90.5%66.8%49.7%

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 provided46 47546 16745 96745 96745 281
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 7104 7894 7894 7894 773

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 provided60 12460 12460 12460 12460 124
Domestic households with access to free basic service4 7894 7894 7894 7894 773

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)126 011131 226141 540150 710132 963
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)23 49213 1957 449--
Total Employee Positions285261289282311
Total Vacant Employee Positions211221
Total Vacancy Percentage0.7%0.4%0.4%0.7%6.8%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677777
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600001
Managerial Positions - by organogram1717161616
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram20121

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans