MunicipalitiesSA

Setsoto Local Municipality

FS191 Local Free State Governed by ANC

127 918 Population Census 2022
5 431 Square kilometres 23.6 per km2
36 471 Households
33 Council seats

Setsoto Local Municipality is a local municipality in Free State, covering 5 431 square kilometres. It falls within the Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Clocolan, Ficksburg, Marquard and Senekal.

Census 2022 counted 127 918 residents, making it the 12th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 162nd of 257 nationally. That works out to 23.6 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 36 471 households, averaging 3.5 people each. 29.0% of residents are under 15 and 7.0% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 8.2% hold a higher education qualification and 5.1% have had no schooling.

The council has 33 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 17 seats (51.5%). ANC governs the municipality. Mrs Seipati Mbiwe serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Ms Nomvula Malatjie 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, Setsoto scores 71.3 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of B, described as sound. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R762.0 million in operating revenue against R886.8 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R124.8 million. At the last census, 36.9% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 92.2% used electricity for lighting and 71.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 17
  • SSDF 7
  • EFF 4
  • DA 2
  • VF PLUS 2
  • ATM 1

Office bearers

Executive Mayor Mrs Seipati Mbiwe ANC
Speaker Mr Pakalitha Mavaleliso ANC
Chief Whip Mr Motsamai William Selasi
Municipal Manager Ms Nomvula Malatjie
Chief Financial Officer Mr Nicolas Lefa Moletsane
Mayoral Committee Mr Komane Koalane MMC: Finance
Mayoral Committee Mr Motsamai Selasi MMC: Infrastructure
Mayoral Committee Mr Ntema Khatlake MPAC Chairperson
Mayoral Committee Mr Thabang Elias Makae MMC: Admin and Human Resource
Mayoral Committee Mr Thabo Isaac Mthimkhulu MMC: Urban Planning and Housing
Mayoral Committee Mr Tommy Ancell MMC: Development Planning and Social Security
Senior Management Mr Luvuyo Ceta Manager: Roads
Senior Management Ms Marietta Angela Mosima Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Senzo Kunene Manager: Project Management Unit and Acting Director: Engineering Services
Senior Management Mr Thabo Mokhethoa Manager: Water Services
Senior Management Mr Wessel De Villiers Manager: Electricity
Communications Mrs Moroesi Gaba

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates86 08171 49568 40264 82866 418
Service charges307 375264 897256 570241 889218 662
Investment revenue10 05212 5949 5974 7651 850
Transfers recognised - operational274 288255 844239 156217 482244 576
Other own revenue84 20867 30064 46736 48717 136
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)762 005672 130638 192565 451548 642
Employee costs262 228238 503220 238224 507222 425
Remuneration of councillors15 27214 74114 07212 87112 967
Depreciation and amortisation140 282156 140208 381286 969394 456
Finance charges4 1033 5663 3974 6615 115
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases142 972122 180100 140105 18794 943
Transfers and subsidies47 2657942 27122 69930 601
Other expenditure274 712309 295185 653174 218173 012
Total Expenditure886 834844 504774 153831 112933 519
Surplus/(Deficit)-124 829-172 374-135 961-265 661-384 877
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)205 400209 219208 904141 107158 588
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--69-8 076
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions80 57136 84573 011-124 554-218 213
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate----67
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year80 57136 84573 011-124 554-218 146

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure348 995335 007345 687323 186219 797
Transfers recognised - capital258 942207 492300 259320 159198 691
Borrowing60043 2094 444166-2
Internally generated funds2 60326 7662182 180140
Total sources of capital funds262 145277 468304 922322 506198 829

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets392 289564 821523 347483 914407 380
Total non current assets2 621 3752 590 3232 526 6852 561 5132 699 021
Total current liabilities163 927253 053214 010281 432258 870
Total non current liabilities111 057111 28696 106103 18983 068
Community wealth/Equity2 738 6802 790 8052 739 9162 660 8062 764 463

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating421 501388 994574 042419 048484 826
Net cash from (used) investing-210 450-212 653-206 688-141 573-181 620
Net cash from (used) financing5--31-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end268 119242 548460 551306 502-274 093

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-78 231150 479623 534319 562
Irregular expenditure2 04910 03219 86953 61093 217
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure5138444 2722 505

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population127 918117 362112 038

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1529.0%30.5%32.1%
Population 15 to 6464.1%63.9%62.0%
Population over 657.0%5.7%5.8%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)56.156.661.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females88.289.487.7

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.3%1.1%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 schooling5.1%4.2%8.7%
Matricn/a27.622.5
Higher education8.2%8.9%6.7%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households36 47137 24633 496
Average household size3.53.23.3
Female headed householdsn/a47.246.5
Formal dwellings83.3%76.6%70.1%
Housing ownedn/a5962.2

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage78.3%64.1%61.1%
Weekly refuse removal71.9%58.3%55.3%
Piped water inside dwelling36.9%15.2%31.3%
Electricity for lighting92.2%92.5%88.6%

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 provided22 82622 82621 23037 21735 359
Number of domestic households/delivery points21 91421 91420 31836 54534 687
Inside the yard21 91421 91420 31833 51330 903
Less than 200m from yard0002 2021 684
More than 200m from yard0008302 100
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 1875 9547 2926 8775 311

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided35 24635 24635 24334 99734 687
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 1875 9547 2926 8775 311

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided24 02424 02422 60835 35935 359
Flush toilet - public sewerage15 83615 83614 42027 29325 703
Flush toilet - septic tank1 8811 8811 8811 8811 560
Ventilated pit latrine4 3684 3684 3684 368418
Bucket system1 0941 0941 0941 0947 006
Other515151510
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 1875 9547 2926 8775 311

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided33 87433 87433 87433 87437 388
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 1875 9547 2926 8775 311

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)220 238224 507222 425195 052188 561
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)14 07212 87112 96713 20913 350
Total Employee Positions622809640662876
Total Vacant Employee Positions516835204
Total Vacancy Percentage0.8%20.8%0.5%0.8%23.3%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5610113
Managerial Positions - by organogram2020202017
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram42240

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans