MunicipalitiesSA

Sekhukhune District Municipality

DC47 District Limpopo Governed by n/a

1 336 805 Population Census 2022
13 527 Square kilometres 98.8 per km2
340 753 Households
19 Council seats Coalition governed

Sekhukhune District Municipality is a district municipality in Limpopo, covering 13 527 square kilometres. It coordinates 4 local municipalities: Elias Motsoaledi, Ephraim Mogale, Tubatse Fetakgomo and Makhuduthamaga. It takes in the towns and settlements of Burgersfort, Groblersdal, Marble Hall, Ohrigstad, Roossenekal, Schuinsdraai Nature Reserve and Steelpoort.

Census 2022 counted 1 336 805 residents, making it the 4th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 13th of 257 nationally. That works out to 98.8 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 340 753 households, averaging 3.9 people each. 32.9% of residents are under 15 and 6.9% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.5% hold a higher education qualification and 15.1% have had no schooling.

The council has 19 seats across 4 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 13 seats (68.4%). It is governed by a coalition: n/a. Mrs Minah Bahula serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Meshach Mahlagaume Isaac Kgwale 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, Sekhukhune scores 29.8 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 R1.4 billion in operating revenue against R1.7 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R273.4 million. At the last census, 25.0% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 94.1% used electricity for lighting and 22.8% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 13
  • EFF 4
  • BPSA 1
  • DA 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mrs Minah Bahula ANC
Speaker Mr Kgwediebotse Chego ANC
Chief Whip Mr Johannes Phokane
Municipal Manager Mr Meshach Mahlagaume Isaac Kgwale
Chief Financial Officer Mr Hendrick Nkadimeng
Mayoral Committee Ms Baatseba Leshaba MMC: Planning and Economic Development
Mayoral Committee Ms Bella Kupa MMC: Infrastructure and Water Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Frank Ratau MMC: Corporate Services and Leader of Government Business
Mayoral Committee Mr Jan Mohlala MMC: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Mrs Kukie Sefala MMC: Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture
Mayoral Committee Mrs Origina Mafefe MMC: Community Services
Mayoral Committee Mr Samson Nkosi MMC: Woman, Children and People with Disabilities
Senior Management Mr Abram Mangoato Manager: Disaster Management Services
Senior Management Mr Junitor Makgolane Acting Chief Audit Executive
Senior Management Mr Langa Kabini Acting Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr M Mawela Manager: Public Participation
Senior Management Mr Seporo Masemola Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Stephen Mhlabane Acting Manager: Special Programmes
Communications Ms Khomotso Ndhlovu Acting
Communications Mr Willy Msoma

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

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

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates-----
Service charges113 32171 554104 34294 21385 340
Investment revenue57 24381 20756 99621 51715 003
Transfers recognised - operational1 169 2551 100 0291 037 8801 002 7431 074 694
Other own revenue45 52535 04125 86317 32895 927
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 385 3431 287 8301 225 0811 135 8011 270 964
Employee costs430 186435 049385 277401 063413 179
Remuneration of councillors16 30117 93517 64915 63115 043
Depreciation and amortisation149 164145 024129 807116 36794 331
Finance charges26 4605421 435--
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases208 720249 734227 243181 888190 724
Transfers and subsidies3 1769 677-3 2192 556
Other expenditure824 753735 678434 154430 725381 701
Total Expenditure1 658 7601 593 6391 195 5651 148 8931 097 535
Surplus/(Deficit)-273 416-305 80929 517-13 092173 430
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)499 703467 124241 443345 117448 733
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)2 0483 8452 7431 5981 202
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions228 335165 161273 703333 624623 364
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year228 335165 161273 703333 624623 364

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure704 492497 079261 633351 036421 394
Transfers recognised - capital436 361411 668208 626306 763398 319
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds268 13185 41152 36643 26123 075
Total sources of capital funds704 492497 079260 992350 025421 394

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets664 293879 7801 056 683433 172723 331
Total non current assets5 593 6195 069 2854 718 8474 857 3973 871 945
Total current liabilities958 079859 092710 559644 683564 187
Total non current liabilities32 52028 03933 82561 10262 794
Community wealth/Equity5 524 3205 061 9345 031 1464 825 9443 949 256

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating453 132-717 65731 991-1 817 020-652 261
Net cash from (used) investing-704 361-497 016-260 992-718 594-337 382
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end301 538-481 977169 158-2 169 567-808 946

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure142 97521 732-410 59111 782
Irregular expenditure120 23193 943100 43376 787214 237
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure52 82679815 69256 734344

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population1 336 8051 169 7621 076 840

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1532.9%32.5%36.0%
Population 15 to 6460.2%62.1%57.3%
Population over 656.9%5.3%6.7%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)66.16174.7

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females8988.385.9

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.1%1.9%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a50.9
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a60.6

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling15.1%16.0%20.9%
Matricn/a24.321
Higher education6.5%6.4%5.8%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households340 753290 527263 802
Average household size3.944.1
Female headed householdsn/a51.252.9
Formal dwellings95.4%87.6%88.7%
Housing ownedn/a74.958.2

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage24.4%5.9%7.5%
Weekly refuse removal22.8%9.0%8.2%
Piped water inside dwelling25.0%4.6%9.3%
Electricity for lighting94.1%89.6%85.9%

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 provided274 991256 753256 753255 903253 131
Number of domestic households/delivery points272 990254 752254 752253 993251 221
Inside the yard167 946149 708149 708149 583149 583
Less than 200m from yard58 44758 44758 44757 84754 005
More than 200m from yard46 59746 59746 59746 56347 633
Domestic households with access to free basic service0610610812812

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided273 998273 702273 702264 041264 041
Flush toilet - public sewerage45 20032 43132 43132 43132 431
Flush toilet - septic tank1 6401 6401 6401 6401 640
Ventilated pit latrine76 55975 55975 55965 89865 898
Bucket system00000
Other149 789163 262163 262163 262163 262
Domestic households with access to free basic service0610610812812

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service00000

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)385 277401 063413 179395 223373 155
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)17 64915 63115 04315 46716 598
Total Employee Positions1 2321 2327861 1661 598
Total Vacant Employee Positions2131129386342
Total Vacancy Percentage17.3%9.1%1.2%33.1%21.4%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5677777
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5624541
Managerial Positions - by organogram3432323229
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram04421

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans