MunicipalitiesSA

Mnquma Local Municipality

EC122 Local Eastern Cape Governed by ANC

232 993 Population Census 2022
3 137 Square kilometres 74.3 per km2
65 221 Households
64 Council seats

Mnquma Local Municipality is a local municipality in Eastern Cape, covering 3 137 square kilometres. It falls within the Amathole District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Butterworth, Kentani and Ngqamakhwe.

Census 2022 counted 232 993 residents, making it the 15th most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 98th of 257 nationally. That works out to 74.3 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 65 221 households, averaging 3.6 people each. 29.9% of residents are under 15 and 10.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.6% hold a higher education qualification and 7.6% have had no schooling.

The council has 64 seats across 9 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 45 seats (70.3%). ANC governs the municipality. Mrs Tunyiswa Manxila-Nkamisa serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Silumko Mahlasela 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, Mnquma scores 65 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R518.4 million in operating revenue against R708.7 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R190.3 million. At the last census, 33.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.9% used electricity for lighting and 32.3% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 45
  • EFF 5
  • UDM 5
  • ATM 2
  • COPE 2
  • PAC 2
  • AIC 1
  • BPM 1
  • DA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mrs Tunyiswa Manxila-Nkamisa ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Mrs Monica Qaba ANC
Chief Whip Mrs Sithembiso Ncetezo
Municipal Manager Mr Silumko Mahlasela
Chief Financial Officer Mr Mzusekho Matomane
Mayoral Committee Luxolo Mgandela Portfolio Head: Infrastructure Development
Mayoral Committee Nomabhele Plaatjie Portfolio Head: Local Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Sisa Matutu Portfolio Head: Strategic Management
Mayoral Committee Thobeka Bikitsha Portfolio Head: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee Zodidi Sobekwa Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Zola Layiti Portfolio Head: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Bangikhaya Nohesi Director: Infrastructural Development
Senior Management Mr M Kibi Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Mongi Dilika Director: Local Economic Development and Planning
Senior Management Mrs Sindiswa Benya Director: Strategic Management
Senior Management Adv Siphiwo Clifford Caga Legal Advisor
Senior Management Ms V Mviko Director: Corporate Services
Communications Mr Loyiso Mpalantshane Spokesperson

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEClean auditClean auditClean auditClean auditFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates81 34067 92362 31168 89260 384
Service charges17 2578 6326 3635 4675 066
Investment revenue18 64221 21314 9217 0194 024
Transfers recognised - operational349 914333 763318 549290 184334 711
Other own revenue51 27941 92437 22540 61434 053
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)518 432473 455439 369412 175438 238
Employee costs229 691216 722204 362190 241187 010
Remuneration of councillors27 40826 89924 43624 48224 001
Depreciation and amortisation242 143303 024186 209109 667122 816
Finance charges1 9331 8941 7171 4871 081
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases5 9504 7543 3184 0702 307
Transfers and subsidies10 0307 96715 76317 12026 311
Other expenditure191 577208 120158 465121 904108 255
Total Expenditure708 732769 379594 270468 970471 781
Surplus/(Deficit)-190 300-295 924-154 901-56 795-33 543
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)94 577111 00395 02982 49876 068
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)----26 042
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-95 723-184 922-59 87225 70368 567
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-95 723-184 922-59 87225 70368 567

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure222 279305 405159 885203 072123 369
Transfers recognised - capital80 652192 455106 539-5 00988 099
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds141 627112 62154 56053 37431 328
Total sources of capital funds222 279305 077161 09948 364119 427

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets194 620234 660235 085213 891181 609
Total non current assets1 648 0951 735 3171 958 231917 379911 997
Total current liabilities61 67168 42463 54959 67977 191
Total non current liabilities-9864112 12738-
Community wealth/Equity1 877 7522 086 0632 187 5131 045 850947 847

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-319 5953 642 572-401 4372 553 882466 418
Net cash from (used) investing1 223-23 367-127 339-29 593-109 533
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-131 2563 813 445-368 3412 651 978407 167

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-----
Irregular expenditure-649--1 451
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure----3

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population232 993246 813245 629

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1529.9%33.0%34.2%
Population 15 to 6459.3%61.0%56.9%
Population over 6510.8%5.9%8.9%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)68.763.875.8

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females91.689.787.9

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-0.5%0.1%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 schooling7.6%12.5%11.0%
Matricn/a1813.3
Higher education8.6%7.4%8.1%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households65 22163 51467 962
Average household size3.63.93.6
Female headed householdsn/a53.554.5
Formal dwellings79.0%52.7%49.1%
Housing ownedn/a75.666.5

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage34.1%14.2%15.1%
Weekly refuse removal32.3%18.1%16.0%
Piped water inside dwelling33.3%14.8%12.6%
Electricity for lighting94.9%81.4%61.4%

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 provided53 20453 20452 75152 75152 751
Domestic households with access to free basic service10 5288 2005 5005 50010 357

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 provided9 4769 4769 4769 4769 476
Domestic households with access to free basic service140235235235235

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)204 362190 241187 010182 527174 231
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)24 43624 48224 00123 82322 946
Total Employee Positions422508508455407
Total Vacant Employee Positions1635152
Total Vacancy Percentage3.8%6.9%0.2%1.1%0.5%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677768
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600100
Managerial Positions - by organogram3535353537
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram62052

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans