Msukaligwa Local Municipality

Msukaligwa Local Municipality is a local municipality in Mpumalanga, covering 6 003 square kilometres. It falls within the Gert Sibande District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Breyten, Chrissiesmeer, Davel, Ermelo and Lothair.

Census 2022 counted 199 314 residents, making it the 14th most populous of the 20 municipalities in Mpumalanga and 114th of 257 nationally. That works out to 33.2 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 67 827 households, averaging 2.9 people each. 26.4% of residents are under 15 and 4.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 7.1% hold a higher education qualification and 10.9% have had no schooling.

The council has 38 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 23 seats (60.5%). ANC governs the municipality. Mrs Mapulane Precious Nkosi serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Maqhawe Kunene 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, Msukaligwa scores 30 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.1 billion in operating revenue against R1.6 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R501.0 million. At the last census, 64.6% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 87.2% used electricity for lighting and 73.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

ANC 23 60.5%
EFF 8 21.1%
DA 4 10.5%
VF PLUS 2 5.3%
ACDP 1 2.6%

Office bearers

Mayor Mrs Mapulane Precious Nkosi ANC

Deputy Mayor n/a

Speaker Ms Ntombifuthi Sarah Xaba ANC

Chief Whip Ms Pretty Thabile Sibeko

Municipal Manager Mr Maqhawe Kunene

Chief Financial Officer Mr Phumuzi Jeremiah Nhlabathi

Mayoral Committee Mr Bongani Gladwell Motha MMC: Planning and Economic Development

Mayoral Committee Ms Elizabeth Msezane MMC: Finance

Mayoral Committee Mr Sphiwe Ernest Ngovene MMC: Community and Social Services

Mayoral Committee Ms Thenjiwe Cathrine Motha MMC: Technical Services

Mayoral Committee Mr Thulani Joshua Madlala MMC: Corporate Services

Senior Management Mr Bongani Zwane Manager: Office of the Municipal Manager

Senior Management Ms Duma Precious Zodwa Director: Technical Services

Senior Management Mr Lerato Thabo Motloung Director: Planning and Economic Development

Senior Management Mr Mandla Dlamini Director: Corporate Services

Senior Management Mr Mfelani Samuel Lukhele Director: Community and Social Services

Communications Mr Mandla Zwane Manager: Communications, IGR and Contact Centre

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	212 918	203 786	202 863	181 646	126 006
Service charges	514 792	443 415	407 318	394 104	376 860
Investment revenue	5 888	6 053	4 854	1 098	949
Transfers recognised - operational	282 515	436 704	242 386	207 661	226 918
Other own revenue	114 536	125 550	178 575	122 068	70 478
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	1 130 649	1 215 508	1 035 997	906 577	801 211
Employee costs	316 650	295 952	265 422	248 969	244 257
Remuneration of councillors	19 019	18 024	17 362	15 489	16 058
Depreciation and amortisation	135 560	128 560	144 109	141 732	137 048
Finance charges	116 791	132 536	47 550	87 000	103 372
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	701 015	567 920	286 411	325 613	362 631
Transfers and subsidies	-	-	-	-	-
Other expenditure	342 609	366 309	2 767 737	251 960	172 743
Total Expenditure	1 631 645	1 509 301	3 528 590	1 070 763	1 036 108
Surplus/(Deficit)	-500 996	-293 794	-2 492 593	-164 186	-234 897
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)	241 561	150 368	258 080	303 435	169 259
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)	1 914	15 537	238	-	1 480
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	-257 521	-127 889	-2 234 275	139 248	-64 158
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	-	-	-	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	-257 521	-127 889	-2 234 275	139 248	-64 158

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Capital expenditure	78 872	104 149	-	5 383	3 442
Transfers recognised - capital	84 766	94 241	-	2 147	5 170
Borrowing	-	-	-	-	-
Internally generated funds	-5 894	9 909	-	3 236	-1 728
Total sources of capital funds	78 872	104 149	-	5 383	3 442

Financial position

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Total current assets	883 384	729 351	847 566	654 346	722 250
Total non current assets	2 884 721	2 805 320	2 832 968	2 717 826	2 477 593
Total current liabilities	2 911 486	2 475 161	2 081 255	1 883 053	1 937 901
Total non current liabilities	76 560	80 163	105 005	89 077	78 305
Community wealth/Equity	945 517	979 347	-2 034 250	1 340 492	1 442 585

Cash flows

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Net cash from (used) operating	390 712	-56 723	2 572 191	927 205	250 798
Net cash from (used) investing	51 160	42 763	-173	-4 984	-5 266
Net cash from (used) financing	449	2 401	-	-	20
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	501 658	67 146	2 581 692	928 396	267 567

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
Unauthorised expenditure	256 845	233 344	235 125	413 256	83 459
Irregular expenditure	17 881	51 382	50 968	74 456	174 768
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	106 130	119 239	82 521	162 401	-

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population	199 314	164 608	149 377

Age structure

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Population under 15	26.4%	27.8%	30.4%
Population 15 to 64	69.0%	68.1%	65.5%
Population over 65	4.6%	4.1%	4.1%

Dependency ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per 100 (15-64)	44.9	46.9	52.6

Sex ratio

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Males per 100 females	94.9	100.3	98.5

Population growth

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Per annum	2.8%	2.2%	n/a

Labour market

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Unemployment rate (official)	n/a	n/a	26.8
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34	n/a	n/a	34.5

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure	2022	2016	2011
No schooling	10.9%	10.6%	12.3%
Matric	n/a	31.6	29.2
Higher education	7.1%	10.1%	9.2%

Household dynamics

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Households	67 827	51 089	40 932
Average household size	2.9	3.2	3.6
Female headed households	n/a	38.9	37.8
Formal dwellings	84.5%	79.1%	75.3%
Housing owned	n/a	49.3	43.4

Household services

Measure	2022	2016	2011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	79.0%	74.3%	72.9%
Weekly refuse removal	73.8%	62.3%	65.5%
Piped water inside dwelling	64.6%	50.0%	53.0%
Electricity for lighting	87.2%	82.4%	74.7%

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	49 453	49 453	49 453	49 349	42 725
Number of domestic households/delivery points	48 557	48 557	48 557	48 534	41 893
Inside the yard	42 556	42 556	42 556	42 556	38 228
Less than 200m from yard	4 620	4 620	4 620	3 478	3 665
More than 200m from yard	1 381	1 381	1 381	2 500	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	3 629	6 006	6 006	7 932	11 357

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	59 145	45 975	45 975	45 975	45 390
Domestic households with access to free basic service	3 629	6 006	6 006	7 932	5 063

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	41 662	39 768	39 768	39 101	39 101
Flush toilet - public sewerage	37 969	37 969	37 969	36 178	36 178
Flush toilet - septic tank	465	429	429	0	0
Ventilated pit latrine	2 340	0	0	2 014	2 014
Bucket system	0	0	0	0	0
Other	0	497	497	36	36
Domestic households with access to free basic service	3 629	6 006	6 006	7 932	7 850

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	34 231	34 231	34 231	26 761	26 761
Domestic households with access to free basic service	3 629	6 006	6 006	7 932	11 357

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)	265 422	248 969	244 257	230 898	207 127
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)	17 362	15 489	16 058	15 651	15 145
Total Employee Positions	628	579	577	580	822
Total Vacant Employee Positions	7	2	0	1	245
Total Vacancy Percentage	1.1%	0.4%	0.0%	0.2%	29.8%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	6	6	6	6	4
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	0	2	0	0	0
Managerial Positions - by organogram	34	31	29	30	30
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram	2	0	0	1	1

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans

E Distressed Financial health 30 of 100, 2024/25

Audit outcome Qualified audit

The Auditor-General found material misstatements in parts of the financial statements.

Operating margin -44.3%

The municipality spent more than it collected on day-to-day operations, running an operating deficit.

Current ratio 0.30:1

Short-term obligations exceed short-term assets, a common early sign of cash-flow trouble.

Cash coverage 3.7 months

Cash on hand could fund operations for this long without any new income.

Irregular spending 23.34%

Share of total spending the Auditor-General flagged as unauthorised, irregular, or fruitless and wasteful.