MunicipalitiesSA

Richmond Local Municipality

KZN227 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by ANC

62 754 Population Census 2022
1 231 Square kilometres 51.0 per km2
13 580 Households
14 Council seats

Richmond Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 1 231 square kilometres. It falls within the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. Its main centre is Richmond.

Census 2022 counted 62 754 residents, making it the 50th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 212th of 257 nationally. That works out to 51.0 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 13 580 households, averaging 4.6 people each. 27.4% of residents are under 15 and 6.0% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 4.7% hold a higher education qualification and 9.9% have had no schooling.

The council has 14 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 8 seats (57.1%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Bonginkosi Ngcongo serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Bhekani Mswane 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, Richmond scores 73.9 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R150.8 million in operating revenue against R166.3 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R15.5 million. At the last census, 24.0% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.8% used electricity for lighting and 26.7% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 8
  • EFF 2
  • DA 1
  • IFP 1
  • INDEPENDENT 1
  • MK 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Bonginkosi Ngcongo ANC
Deputy Mayor Ms BAndumile Mbanjwa ANC
Speaker Ms Khonziwe Mkhize ANC
Chief Whip Mr Lungisani Ngubo
Municipal Manager Mr Bhekani Mswane
Chief Financial Officer Mr Msizi Ngcobo
Mayoral Committee Mr Bhekani Mahlangeni
Mayoral Committee Mr Bongumusa Kunene
Mayoral Committee Ms Fortunate Zama Zondi
Mayoral Committee Ms Khonziwe Elda Mkhize
Mayoral Committee Mr Melikhaya Knowledge Ngcongo
Mayoral Committee Mr Mthokozisi Hayse Madlala
Mayoral Committee Mr Sithembiso Latha
Mayoral Committee Mr Skhumbuzo Thabiso Mkhize
Mayoral Committee Ms Sobahle Shudasia Ngubo
Mayoral Committee Ms Thabile Pamela Vezi
Mayoral Committee Mr Vincent Maphumulo
Senior Management Mr Mzwandile Ntanzi Manager: Technical Services
Senior Management Mr Vusumuzi Sibisi Acting Strategic Manager: Community Services
Communications Mr Sibonelo Bhengu

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates29 40028 87127 11519 28518 494
Service charges9871 023966923777
Investment revenue2 8732 9392 7791 2631 114
Transfers recognised - operational106 71599 86898 78585 16197 079
Other own revenue10 87215 36011 1088 8394 647
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)150 847148 061140 752115 471122 111
Employee costs78 70769 24764 23860 31554 672
Remuneration of councillors6 5226 5496 0515 9775 773
Depreciation and amortisation17 62018 03614 95520 46922 847
Finance charges752851360296197
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases3 6784 6947 4374 9724 520
Transfers and subsidies-523556590563
Other expenditure59 04070 11161 96349 04538 426
Total Expenditure166 320170 010155 561141 664126 999
Surplus/(Deficit)-15 473-21 950-14 808-26 193-4 887
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)23 05622 21320 13426 81027 257
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions7 5832645 32661622 369
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year7 5832645 32661622 369

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure24 62021 93753 25235 46682 325
Transfers recognised - capital20 05618 44648 70133 65819 452
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds2882 0923 8081 31218 035
Total sources of capital funds20 34420 53752 50934 97037 487

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets32 25125 44431 17040 61343 658
Total non current assets377 667370 952367 942359 148358 552
Total current liabilities23 25621 58726 23028 87333 570
Total non current liabilities20 48116 21014 77018 10516 480
Community wealth/Equity339 631358 599358 115352 280349 927

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating246 490236 085248 029269 111178 307
Net cash from (used) investing-21 425-23 167-28 249-27 006-39 616
Net cash from (used) financing-280----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end236 655231 660246 683263 147192 695

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure---17 6386 731
Irregular expenditure---1 28422 584
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure-498619465

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population62 75471 32265 540

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1527.4%39.9%33.5%
Population 15 to 6466.6%56.8%61.7%
Population over 656.0%3.3%4.8%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)50.27662.1

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females94.297.793.9

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum-0.4%1.9%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 schooling9.9%12.8%16.0%
Matricn/a26.821.1
Higher education4.7%6.9%4.1%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households13 58017 57016 358
Average household size4.64.14
Female headed householdsn/a46.948.9
Formal dwellings81.7%69.3%54.6%
Housing ownedn/a6144.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage22.7%12.3%20.4%
Weekly refuse removal26.7%14.6%15.6%
Piped water inside dwelling24.0%18.9%20.2%
Electricity for lighting97.8%89.7%81.5%

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?YesYesYesNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided15 41815 41815 41814 41113 595
Domestic households with access to free basic service4568156439671 054

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 provided1 4831 4831 4831 4834 000
Domestic households with access to free basic service4604554583843

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)64 23860 31554 67251 23345 590
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)6 0515 9775 7736 0305 764
Total Employee Positions228228374184217
Total Vacant Employee Positions434301345
Total Vacancy Percentage18.9%18.9%0.0%7.1%20.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600012
Managerial Positions - by organogram151520209
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram660122

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans