MunicipalitiesSA

Mkhondo Local Municipality

MP303 Local Mpumalanga Governed by ANC

255 411 Population Census 2022
4 901 Square kilometres 52.1 per km2
58 504 Households
38 Council seats

Mkhondo Local Municipality is a local municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 4 901 square kilometres. It falls within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of eMkhondo (Piet Retief) and eMvelo (Amsterdam).

Census 2022 counted 255 411 residents, making it the 11th most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 92nd of 257 nationally. That works out to 52.1 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 58 504 households, averaging 4.4 people each. 28.9% of residents are under 15 and 4.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 4.0% hold a higher education qualification and 11.2% have had no schooling.

The council has 38 seats across 8 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 22 seats (57.9%). ANC governs the municipality. Mrs Ngelosi Ndhlovu serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Mthandeni Mkhonza 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, Mkhondo scores 13.7 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 R784.9 million in operating revenue against R1.1 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R348.1 million. At the last census, 41.8% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 89.2% used electricity for lighting and 48.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 22
  • EFF 7
  • DA 4
  • ATM 1
  • IFP 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1
  • NFP 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mrs Ngelosi Ndhlovu ANC
Speaker Mr Mduduzi Ngwenya ANC
Chief Whip Mr Daniel Thwala
Municipal Manager Mr Mthandeni Mkhonza
Chief Financial Officer Mr Khomotso Nelson Duba
Mayoral Committee Mary Thwala MMC: Technical Services
Mayoral Committee Mthandeni Mkhabela MMC: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Thembi Khumalo MMC: Planning and Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Thokozane Manana MMC: Financial Services
Mayoral Committee Walter Vilikazi MMC: Community Services
Senior Management Mr MJ Mkhonza General Manager: Planning and Development
Senior Management Mr S Chavarika Acting General Manager: Financial Services
Senior Management Mr SW Nkosi General Manager: Technical Services
Senior Management Ms WD Mahlangu General Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms ZA Mthethwa General Manager: Community Services
Communications Mr Robert Kubheka

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates89 06882 80480 03174 50471 237
Service charges188 020224 469202 911214 039195 692
Investment revenue1 7272 7581 262256195
Transfers recognised - operational370 239391 446321 215279 332305 269
Other own revenue135 83681 75471 02946 61646 329
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)784 890783 231676 447614 747618 721
Employee costs264 123248 361234 561232 409215 417
Remuneration of councillors19 76418 67615 83215 45316 154
Depreciation and amortisation125 83475 79793 06791 81172 120
Finance charges32 32742 94354 64433 77519 757
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases295 491237 001181 381225 288235 826
Transfers and subsidies67710 6459 6127 2176 212
Other expenditure394 726349 816305 029231 763298 077
Total Expenditure1 132 941983 239894 127837 716863 562
Surplus/(Deficit)-348 051-200 008-217 680-222 969-244 841
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)132 77196 204106 408185 121145 590
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)2 6201 6122 6245 9648 469
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-212 661-102 192-108 648-31 885-90 782
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-212 661-102 192-108 648-31 885-90 782

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure144 14195 182207 263182 360133 397
Transfers recognised - capital112 85280 93494 753181 26078 933
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds28 48011 8462 37193342 636
Total sources of capital funds141 33292 78097 124182 193121 569

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets206 414221 902510 240434 069329 036
Total non current assets2 023 8462 012 2062 003 0571 942 0391 786 872
Total current liabilities1 225 9701 023 6911 212 3891 031 949821 717
Total non current liabilities55 32549 45850 68951 63053 813
Community wealth/Equity947 9061 159 3081 250 2181 292 5291 240 378

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating120 666-106 963-182 303127 834456 038
Net cash from (used) investing-163 030-105 247-112 272-177 963-176 054
Net cash from (used) financing1110--2 30644
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-33 532-201 313-290 342-44 652228 294

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure195 26299 130161 115970 950158 365
Irregular expenditure3 14312 20619 78313 39112 887
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure29 24886 1865 17776 8718 455

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population255 411189 036171 982

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1528.9%34.6%36.6%
Population 15 to 6467.0%60.9%59.2%
Population over 654.2%4.5%4.2%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)49.364.269

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females88.291.291.7

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum3.8%2.2%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a35.9
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a44.6

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling11.2%15.0%18.1%
Matricn/a28.825.5
Higher education4.0%3.8%5.2%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households58 50445 59537 433
Average household size4.44.14.6
Female headed householdsn/a47.545.3
Formal dwellings87.5%75.0%65.2%
Housing ownedn/a55.752.1

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage51.3%42.8%42.1%
Weekly refuse removal48.7%38.0%33.8%
Piped water inside dwelling41.8%17.7%30.9%
Electricity for lighting89.2%77.1%66.8%

Service delivery

National Treasury, non-financial census of municipalities

Water

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided56 43556 25256 25246 38146 381
Number of domestic households/delivery points53 31753 13453 13443 26343 263
Inside the yard31 36431 29431 29431 76431 764
Less than 200m from yard10 53310 42010 42010 37010 370
More than 200m from yard11 42011 42011 4201 1291 129
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 7041 8371 8371 2631 263

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided49 05148 25148 25148 25147 736
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 7041 8371 8371 2631 263

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided40 35740 35340 35340 33840 338
Flush toilet - public sewerage20 75920 75520 75520 74020 740
Flush toilet - septic tank4 6374 6374 6374 6374 637
Ventilated pit latrine2 6322 6322 6322 6322 632
Bucket system00000
Other9 2119 2119 2119 2119 211
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 7041 8371 8371 2631 263

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided32 89831 05130 73730 73730 737
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 7041 8371 8371 2631 263

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)234 561232 409215 417190 791169 977
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)15 83215 45316 15415 79815 052
Total Employee Positions533846519522596
Total Vacant Employee Positions13020074
Total Vacancy Percentage0.2%35.7%0.0%0.0%12.4%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5613000
Managerial Positions - by organogram3836361919
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram014000

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans