MunicipalitiesSA

Thulamela Local Municipality

LIM343 Local Limpopo Governed by ANC

575 929 Population Census 2022
2 642 Square kilometres 218.0 per km2
142 527 Households
81 Council seats

Thulamela Local Municipality is a local municipality in Limpopo, covering 2 642 square kilometres. It falls within the Vhembe District Municipality. Its main centre is Thohoyandou.

Census 2022 counted 575 929 residents, making it the 8th most populous of the 27 municipalities in Limpopo and 46th of 257 nationally. That works out to 218.0 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 142 527 households, averaging 4.0 people each. 31.8% of residents are under 15 and 6.5% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 13.9% hold a higher education qualification and 13.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 81 seats across 7 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 71 seats (87.7%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms AS Rambuda serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr MM Matshivha is acting 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, Thulamela scores 47 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 R934.6 million in operating revenue against R1.0 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R100.7 million. At the last census, 26.0% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 97.7% used electricity for lighting and 28.9% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 71
  • EFF 4
  • DA 2
  • ACDP 1
  • APC 1
  • IRC 1
  • PAC 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms AS Rambuda ANC
Deputy Mayor n/a
Speaker Ms FA Mutheiwana ANC
Chief Whip Mr Radamba Ndivhuwo
Municipal Manager Mr MM Matshivha Acting
Chief Financial Officer Mr AC Mufamadi
Mayoral Committee Mr KE Mulaudzi Portfolio Head: IDP and LED
Mayoral Committee LM Madondo Portfolio Head: Roads, Storm Water and Sanitation
Mayoral Committee Mr LS Maduse Portfolio Head: Human Settlement
Mayoral Committee Mr Makungo Tshivhangwaho Exco Member: Planning and Development
Mayoral Committee ME Shavhani Portfolio Head: Legislation, Land Use Management and Traditional Affairs
Mayoral Committee Mr MK Mulovhedzi Portfolio Head Special Programmes: Youth, Disabled and Gender
Mayoral Committee Mr NA Lieba Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury
Mayoral Committee Ms NE Mashawana Portfolio Head: Education, Sports, Arts and Culture
Mayoral Committee Ms PV Ligege Portfolio Head: Corporate Services
Mayoral Committee SC Kwinda Portfolio Head: Environment, Health, Safety and Security
Senior Management Ms A Gangashe Technical Services
Senior Management Mrs M Tshivhinda Planning and Development
Senior Management Mrs NA Todani Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr SS Razwiedani Community Services
Communications Ms F Bologo
Communications Mr Nndwamato Tshiila Spokesperson

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEQualified auditQualified auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates106 61996 84694 45590 94887 840
Service charges27 69527 69528 46126 98025 379
Investment revenue77 67383 81661 24027 83918 174
Transfers recognised - operational637 640600 457581 920532 000602 266
Other own revenue84 96585 31163 06671 45268 056
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)934 592894 125829 141749 219801 715
Employee costs377 400342 651325 609297 911287 245
Remuneration of councillors35 07534 19331 78730 65730 744
Depreciation and amortisation95 09983 00980 15063 40363 695
Finance charges5 0725 0243 1412 8601 275
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases24 43317 85914 64512 0717 751
Transfers and subsidies1 6871 6972 7664 7863 773
Other expenditure496 546423 682411 888273 516212 391
Total Expenditure1 035 312908 115869 987685 204606 874
Surplus/(Deficit)-100 720-13 990-40 84564 016194 840
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)133 572160 088134 925120 16186 852
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--27-5 332
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions32 852146 09894 107184 177287 024
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year32 852146 09894 107184 177287 024

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure186 882300 104207 234163 276125 237
Transfers recognised - capital116 659146 139118 604102 83461 060
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds70 223153 96588 63060 44158 845
Total sources of capital funds186 882300 104207 234163 276119 905

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets1 091 803997 7651 098 8281 052 528966 760
Total non current assets2 218 8682 277 6762 063 6651 723 5781 633 121
Total current liabilities166 876179 263196 459118 690127 079
Total non current liabilities58 61143 91540 46347 18845 663
Community wealth/Equity3 083 8623 056 6172 925 5762 608 9442 427 139

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating341 197267 474498 216389 980-65 189
Net cash from (used) investing-188 407-307 071-284 632-153 456-118 031
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end1 074 063986 9231 201 9871 127 112-448 140

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure152 2921 003---
Irregular expenditure30 61216 98435 1931 508186
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure533732 9601 17517

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population575 929497 237450 131

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1531.8%33.9%34.0%
Population 15 to 6461.7%61.5%59.8%
Population over 656.5%4.6%6.1%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)6262.567.1

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females87.284.683.6

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.4%1.8%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 schooling13.4%8.7%14.5%
Matricn/a28.623.1
Higher education13.9%12.5%12.8%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households142 527130 320114 001
Average household size43.83.9
Female headed householdsn/a50.452.2
Formal dwellings96.4%91.2%91.5%
Housing ownedn/a8770.8

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage28.1%11.8%13.6%
Weekly refuse removal28.9%17.6%13.5%
Piped water inside dwelling26.0%9.1%17.1%
Electricity for lighting97.7%96.5%87.2%

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?NoNoNoNoNo
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided133 564132 644131 366131 366130 700
Domestic households with access to free basic service4 4624 5814 5815 86614 158

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 provided60 03460 03459 09750 00050 000
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 9882 0212 0212 22514 158

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)325 609297 911287 245275 951261 950
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)31 78730 65730 74430 63029 118
Total Employee Positions694612661661622
Total Vacant Employee Positions12225161622
Total Vacancy Percentage17.6%4.1%2.4%2.4%3.5%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5620003
Managerial Positions - by organogram2727272727
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram3416164

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans