Merafong City Local Municipality
225 476
Population
Census 2022
1 630
Square kilometres
138.3 per km2
77 599
Households
55
Council seats
Merafong City Local Municipality is a local municipality in Gauteng, covering 1 630 square kilometres. It falls within the West Rand District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Carletonville, Fochville and Wedela.
Census 2022 counted 225 476 residents, making it the 9th most populous of the 11 municipalities in Gauteng and 101st of 257 nationally. That works out to 138.3 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 77 599 households, averaging 2.9 people each. 24.2% of residents are under 15 and 4.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.7% hold a higher education qualification and 5.0% have had no schooling.
The council has 55 seats across 8 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 28 seats (50.9%). ANC governs the municipality. Mrs Nozuko Best serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Siyethemba Mdletshe 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, Merafong City scores 20.5 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 R2.2 billion in operating revenue against R3.6 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R1.4 billion. At the last census, 81.9% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 98.1% used electricity for lighting and 81.9% had refuse removed weekly.
Council and management
Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections
- ANC 28 50.9%
- DA 9 16.4%
- EFF 9 16.4%
- VF PLUS 4 7.3%
- MAOC 2 3.6%
- AIC 1 1.8%
- IFP 1 1.8%
- UDM 1 1.8%
Office bearers
Executive Mayor
Mrs Nozuko Best
ANC
Speaker
Mr Elvis Mphithikezi
ANC
Chief Whip
Mr Thabo Mokuke
Municipal Manager
Mr Siyethemba Mdletshe
Acting MM and Executive Director: Infrastructure Development
Chief Financial Officer
Ms Julia Magongwa
Acting
Mayoral Committee
Mrs Dipuo Segakweng
MMC: Integrated Environmental Management
Mayoral Committee
Mrs Disebo Tabane
MMC: Roads, Stormwater and Public Works
Mayoral Committee
Mr Endrew Mbaliso
MMC: Local Economic and Rural Development
Mayoral Committee
Mr Ernest Tibane
MMC: Health and Social Development
Mayoral Committee
L Mganu
MMC: Electricity, Gas and Water, Energy
Mayoral Committee
Mr Mcebisi Moyeni
MMC: Finance
Mayoral Committee
Mr Mogomotsi Sello
MMC: Corporate and Shared Services
Mayoral Committee
Mrs Nasiwe Mcetywa
MMC: Public Safety and Transport
Mayoral Committee
Mrs Ntomboxolo Sefako
MMC: Human Settlement and Land Development
Mayoral Committee
Mr Vusi Nkwanyana
MMC: SRACH and LIS
Senior Management
Mr Benjamin Mazibuko
Acting Executive Director: Corporate Shared and Services
Senior Management
Mr Ishmael Mahlatsi
Chief of Staff
Senior Management
Mr Juan Evans
Acting Executive Director: Economic Development and Planning
Senior Management
Mr Malusi Brian Dlamini
Executive Director: Community Services
Senior Management
Siyethemba Mdletshe
Senior Management
Mr Slums Magodielo
Manager
Communications
Ms Bridgette Mkhontwana
Chief Communications Officer
Finances
National Treasury, audited outcomes
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUDIT OUTCOME | Qualified audit | Qualified audit | Disclaimer of audit | Disclaimer of audit | Adverse audit |
Financial performance
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Property rates | 525 259 | 765 344 | 581 883 | 567 514 | 541 111 |
| Service charges | 885 064 | 839 443 | 841 370 | 812 884 | 753 764 |
| Investment revenue | 11 172 | 19 709 | 12 758 | 5 046 | 4 848 |
| Transfers recognised - operational | 361 224 | 325 561 | 378 304 | 256 019 | 252 673 |
| Other own revenue | 394 705 | 577 638 | 258 446 | 268 339 | 234 397 |
| Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions) | 2 177 424 | 2 527 695 | 2 072 761 | 1 909 802 | 1 786 793 |
| Employee costs | 439 612 | 414 909 | 370 511 | 367 065 | 349 925 |
| Remuneration of councillors | 27 103 | 26 332 | 25 460 | 22 282 | 22 590 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 245 449 | 123 250 | 172 764 | 220 800 | 142 963 |
| Finance charges | 285 710 | 197 304 | 157 325 | 82 067 | 50 276 |
| Inventory consumed and bulk purchases | 750 487 | 826 078 | 684 004 | 584 317 | 589 689 |
| Transfers and subsidies | 506 | 748 | 522 | 321 | 2 295 |
| Other expenditure | 1 815 620 | 1 674 395 | 985 089 | 1 095 865 | 1 127 689 |
| Total Expenditure | 3 564 486 | 3 263 016 | 2 395 675 | 2 372 718 | 2 285 428 |
| Surplus/(Deficit) | -1 387 061 | -735 321 | -322 913 | -462 916 | -498 634 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations) | 149 974 | 158 943 | 81 732 | 122 479 | 104 878 |
| Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind) | -126 | 9 | -9 | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions | -1 237 214 | -576 369 | -241 191 | -340 437 | -393 757 |
| Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate | - | - | - | - | - |
| Surplus/(Deficit) for the year | -1 237 214 | -576 369 | -241 191 | -340 437 | -393 757 |
Capital expenditure & funds sources
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital expenditure | 217 924 | 210 663 | 164 213 | 50 931 | 354 553 |
| Transfers recognised - capital | 210 678 | 197 821 | 170 430 | 43 065 | 243 253 |
| Borrowing | - | - | - | - | - |
| Internally generated funds | 7 246 | 19 837 | - | 7 415 | 5 786 |
| Total sources of capital funds | 217 924 | 217 658 | 170 430 | 50 480 | 249 040 |
Financial position
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total current assets | 860 733 | 884 717 | 890 748 | 74 073 | -286 114 |
| Total non current assets | 3 383 526 | 3 495 686 | 3 497 186 | -91 286 | 14 676 |
| Total current liabilities | 3 733 397 | 2 586 395 | 2 047 526 | 319 509 | 119 392 |
| Total non current liabilities | 169 854 | 159 625 | 159 417 | -14 030 | 2 978 |
| Community wealth/Equity | 1 578 222 | 2 210 752 | 2 422 182 | 17 746 | -52 |
Cash flows
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Net cash from (used) operating | 362 087 | -683 977 | 328 417 | -1 029 734 | -413 886 |
| Net cash from (used) investing | -150 850 | - | - | - | - |
| Net cash from (used) financing | - | - | - | - | (1 150) |
| Cash/cash equivalents at the year end | 367 217 | -478 262 | 534 132 | -1 076 821 | -415 036 |
Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unauthorised expenditure | 1 065 040 | 1 030 055 | - | - | - |
| Irregular expenditure | 138 917 | 209 249 | 280 375 | 49 127 | 33 894 |
| Fruitless & wasteful expenditure | 207 299 | 157 779 | 138 444 | 168 540 | 46 119 |
Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1
People
Statistics South Africa, Census
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 225 476 | 188 843 | 197 520 |
Age structure
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population under 15 | 24.2% | 23.3% | 24.1% |
| Population 15 to 64 | 70.9% | 72.2% | 72.5% |
| Population over 65 | 4.8% | 4.5% | 3.4% |
Dependency ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per 100 (15-64) | 41 | 38.5 | 37.9 |
Sex ratio
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males per 100 females | 103.7 | 115.3 | 118.6 |
Population growth
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per annum | 1.3% | -1.0% | n/a |
Labour market
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rate (official) | n/a | n/a | 27.2 |
| Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34 | n/a | n/a | 37.8 |
Education (aged 20 +)
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| No schooling | 5.0% | 4.1% | 6.5% |
| Matric | n/a | 29.4 | 26.3 |
| Higher education | 6.7% | 9.0% | 6.6% |
Household dynamics
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households | 77 599 | 79 834 | 66 624 |
| Average household size | 2.9 | 2.4 | 3 |
| Female headed households | n/a | 29.2 | 29.4 |
| Formal dwellings | 91.6% | 81.3% | 74.7% |
| Housing owned | n/a | 36.9 | 29.8 |
Household services
| Measure | 2022 | 2016 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 94.1% | 85.8% | 83.1% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 81.9% | 75.2% | 74.9% |
| Piped water inside dwelling | 81.9% | 62.1% | 52.9% |
| Electricity for lighting | 98.1% | 86.7% | 82.8% |
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 | 79 918 | 79 918 | 79 918 | 68 999 | 67 683 |
| Number of domestic households/delivery points | 78 860 | 78 860 | 78 860 | 67 941 | 66 625 |
| Inside the yard | 48 918 | 48 918 | 48 918 | 48 781 | 48 123 |
| Less than 200m from yard | 19 000 | 19 000 | 19 000 | 19 160 | 18 502 |
| More than 200m from yard | 10 942 | 10 942 | 10 942 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 468 | 2 219 | 2 219 | 3 760 | 2 511 |
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 | 57 856 | 57 856 | 57 856 | 53 810 | 51 766 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 468 | 2 219 | 2 219 | 4 302 | 2 511 |
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 | 78 395 | 78 395 | 78 395 | 67 683 | 67 683 |
| Flush toilet - public sewerage | 48 918 | 48 918 | 48 918 | 48 098 | 48 098 |
| Flush toilet - septic tank | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 25 |
| Ventilated pit latrine | 20 969 | 20 969 | 20 969 | 18 502 | 18 502 |
| Bucket system | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 7 450 | 7 450 | 7 450 | 0 | 0 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 468 | 2 219 | 2 219 | 3 760 | 2 511 |
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 | 54 507 | 54 507 | 54 507 | 50 013 | 50 013 |
| Domestic households with access to free basic service | 2 468 | 2 219 | 2 219 | 3 760 | 2 511 |
Staffing
National Treasury
| Measure | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Costs (R’000) | 370 511 | 367 065 | 349 925 | 316 032 | 328 318 |
| Remuneration of councillors (R’000) | 25 460 | 22 282 | 22 590 | 22 855 | 23 827 |
| Total Employee Positions | 863 | 1 068 | 1 068 | 1 398 | 1 397 |
| Total Vacant Employee Positions | 98 | 18 | 18 | 228 | 144 |
| Total Vacancy Percentage | 11.4% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 16.3% | 10.3% |
| Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Managerial Positions - by organogram | 32 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 26 |
| Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram | 17 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 11 |
Published documents
Hosted by National Treasury