MunicipalitiesSA

Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality

NMA Metropolitan Eastern Cape Governed by ANC/EFF/NA/AIC/PAC Coalition

1 190 496 Population Census 2022
1 957 Square kilometres 608.3 per km2
307 931 Households
120 Council seats Coalition governed

Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality is one of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities, the category reserved for the country’s largest urban centres, and it governs 1 957 square kilometres of Eastern Cape. It takes in 11 recognised towns and settlements, among them Bethelsdorp, Bloemendal, Blue Horizon Bay, Clarendon Marine, Despatch, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Kariega (Uitenhage), KwaNobuhle.

Census 2022 counted 1 190 496 residents, making it the 2nd most populous of the 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape and 17th of 257 nationally. That works out to 608.3 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 307 931 households, averaging 3.9 people each. 22.3% of residents are under 15 and 8.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 12.8% hold a higher education qualification and 2.5% have had no schooling.

The council has 120 seats across 13 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 48 seats (40.0%). It is governed by a coalition: ANC/EFF/NA/AIC/PAC Coalition. Ms Babalwa Lobishe serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Ted Pillay 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, Nelson Mandela Bay scores 43.2 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “qualified audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R17.4 billion in operating revenue against R19.0 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R1.6 billion. At the last census, 82.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.5% used electricity for lighting and 88.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 48
  • DA 48
  • EFF 8
  • NA 3
  • PA 2
  • ACDP 2
  • DOP 2
  • VF PLUS 2
  • GOOD 1
  • AIM 1
  • AIC 1
  • PAC 1
  • UDM 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Ms Babalwa Lobishe ANC
Deputy Mayor Mr Gary Van Niekerk ANC
Speaker Ms Eugene Johnson ANC
Chief Whip Mr Wandisile Jikeka
Municipal Manager Mr Ted Pillay
Chief Financial Officer Mr Jackson Ngcelwane
Mayoral Committee Mr Bradley Michael Murray MMC: Roads and Transport
Mayoral Committee Ms Buyelwa Nancy Mafaya MMC: Infrastructure and Engineering
Mayoral Committee Ms Itumeleng Felicity Ranyele MPAC Chairperson
Mayoral Committee Mr John Mervyn Mitchell MMC: Safety and Security
Mayoral Committee Mr Khanya Ngqisha MMC: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Mr Mcebisi Bass Kamana MMC: Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Ncebakazi Wala Chairperson: Rules and Ethics
Mayoral Committee Ms Ntombizanele Sikawuti MMC: Electricity and Energy
Mayoral Committee Ms Shurling Hazel Lindoor MMC: Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture
Mayoral Committee Mr Thembinkosi Bethwell Mafana MMC: Human Settlements
Mayoral Committee Mr Thsonono Christopher Solomon Buyeye MMC: Public Health
Mayoral Committee Ms Yolisa Margaret Pali MMC: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Andre van der Westhuizen Director: Infrastructure and Engineering
Senior Management Mrs Bongekile Emelda Mankahla Director: Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture
Senior Management Mr Jordan Griffiths Acting: Chief of Staff
Senior Management Lonwabo Ngoqo Acting: Chief Operations Officer
Senior Management Mr Luxolo Namette Manager: Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture
Senior Management Mr Luyanda Niebeck Lawu Director: Safety and Security
Senior Management Mr Mkhuseli John Jack Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Thsonono Christopher Solomon Buyeye Director: Public Health
Senior Management Mr Tukela Zumani Director: Human Settlements
Senior Management Mr Ziyanda Phakama Mnqokoyi
Communications Mr Kupido Baron Media Manager
Communications Mr Sithembiso Soyaya Municipal Spokesperson

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditQualified auditFinancially unqualifiedQualified auditQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates3 041 0992 875 6002 731 1732 661 4532 661 453
Service charges9 602 5279 112 15510 035 6988 062 9908 064 067
Investment revenue336 969365 421331 113182 208182 208
Transfers recognised - operational1 791 7591 711 0241 554 4321 322 1182 023 365
Other own revenue2 673 5862 263 3751 898 1111 464 343762 797
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)17 445 94016 327 57416 550 52613 693 11213 693 890
Employee costs4 110 9563 889 7733 672 7823 584 5153 633 482
Remuneration of councillors85 93382 05384 99375 90075 900
Depreciation and amortisation948 840885 798992 6701 000 4521 000 452
Finance charges65 701110 394131 488125 550125 554
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases6 875 0516 152 5604 823 0284 503 7634 496 490
Transfers and subsidies232 341211 079105 654121 062114 880
Other expenditure6 700 3385 603 2415 961 3694 836 2363 227 298
Total Expenditure19 019 16116 934 89815 771 98314 247 47812 674 056
Surplus/(Deficit)-1 573 220-607 324778 544-554 3661 019 834
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)998 1981 081 0051 057 362818 115818 115
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)45 27051 898421 43411 41711 417
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-529 752525 5782 257 340275 1661 849 366
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-529 752525 5782 257 340275 1661 849 366

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure1 337 3971 486 6631 892 53130 099 22230 098 166
Transfers recognised - capital68 92121 862121 5111 566 5031 566 328
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds-2 07410019 64319 643
Total sources of capital funds68 92123 936121 6101 586 1461 585 971

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets10 790 52611 096 43310 816 2619 029 08610 596 634
Total non current assets20 493 98119 994 84019 322 93518 614 78118 613 742
Total current liabilities6 463 2786 018 2376 487 2564 824 4104 816 886
Total non current liabilities3 751 9143 473 1052 578 9603 806 3373 806 337
Community wealth/Equity21 069 31621 599 93121 072 98019 012 97320 587 480

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-58 838-1 138 0571 342 211859532
Net cash from (used) investing-10 507-14 61514 721-135 689-45 492
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end4 272 0323 598 3906 055 905-134 830-44 959

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure1 649 2351 441 69465 2808 895847 087
Irregular expenditure2 078 6191 951 2141 401 3631 380 6521 389 805
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure4 71617 07946 136676 2121 000

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population1 190 4961 263 0511 152 115

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1522.3%30.6%25.5%
Population 15 to 6468.9%63.6%68.5%
Population over 658.8%5.9%6.0%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)45.257.346

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females89.89692.3

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum0.3%2.1%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a36.6
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a47.3

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling2.5%2.6%3.0%
Matricn/a34.930.5
Higher education12.8%11.1%11.6%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households307 931368 520324 279
Average household size3.93.43.6
Female headed householdsn/a41.640.6
Formal dwellings92.0%92.5%87.2%
Housing ownedn/a68.461.4

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage93.5%90.5%89.4%
Weekly refuse removal88.8%84.8%82.9%
Piped water inside dwelling82.3%77.3%74.1%
Electricity for lighting96.5%95.4%90.5%

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 provided315 535295 744286 092257 927245 293
Number of domestic households/delivery points305 476285 685275 781248 245235 226
Inside the yard288 739249 467248 245247 789234 770
Less than 200m from yard16 73736 21827 536456456
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service43 54844 38459 16152 80178 914

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided359 662337 982336 311324 410300 436
Domestic households with access to free basic service33 81835 87645 77845 22463 706

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided271 249256 977256 007244 947241 992
Flush toilet - public sewerage255 049240 785239 563223 857222 111
Flush toilet - septic tank0003 6813 681
Ventilated pit latrine131123123123123
Bucket system6 0106 0106 0106 0106 010
Other0001 5940
Domestic households with access to free basic service44 58145 52760 01159 15478 914

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided235 843235 644228 440227 365367 860
Domestic households with access to free basic service41 23841 18751 82749 84667 363

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)3 672 7823 584 5153 633 4823 243 6393 243 639
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)84 99375 90075 90074 22974 229
Total Employee Positions5 6258 1898 5866 0749 062
Total Vacant Employee Positions42251914
Total Vacancy Percentage0.1%0.0%0.3%0.3%0.2%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S561111111111
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5642114
Managerial Positions - by organogram269688686226
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00241810

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans