MunicipalitiesSA

Tswelopele Local Municipality

FS183 Local Free State Governed by ANC

56 896 Population Census 2022
6 533 Square kilometres 8.7 per km2
14 798 Households
17 Council seats

Tswelopele Local Municipality is a local municipality in Free State, covering 6 533 square kilometres. It falls within the Lejweleputswa District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Bultfontein and Hoopstad.

Census 2022 counted 56 896 residents, making it the 17th most populous of the 23 municipalities in Free State and 217th of 257 nationally. That works out to 8.7 people per square kilometre. The population is very sparsely distributed across a large area. There are 14 798 households, averaging 3.8 people each. 30.1% of residents are under 15 and 5.9% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.9% hold a higher education qualification and 6.6% have had no schooling.

The council has 17 seats across 5 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 10 seats (58.8%). ANC governs the municipality. Ms KR Phukuntsi serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr MLE Leseane 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, Tswelopele scores 43.6 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of D, described as under strain. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R310.8 million in operating revenue against R333.0 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R22.1 million. At the last census, 34.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.3% used electricity for lighting and 78.2% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 10
  • DA 3
  • EFF 2
  • TYP 1
  • VF PLUS 1

Office bearers

Mayor Ms KR Phukuntsi ANC
Speaker Ms MW Raseu ANC
Chief Whip Mr Mzonakele Baleni
Municipal Manager Mr MLE Leseane
Chief Financial Officer Mr TJ Matyesini
Mayoral Committee Mrs EJ Pretorius Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Ms JM Radienyane Exco Member
Mayoral Committee Mr KP Dial
Mayoral Committee Ms LE Verwey
Mayoral Committee Mr MA Muller
Mayoral Committee Mr MC Mphatsoe
Mayoral Committee Mr MJ Noosi
Mayoral Committee Mr MJ Rabannye
Mayoral Committee Mr MM Snyer
Mayoral Committee Mr MS Baleni
Mayoral Committee Mr RA Potsanyane
Mayoral Committee Mr SH Gaebee
Mayoral Committee Mr TA Soaisa
Mayoral Committee Ms TS Shuping
Mayoral Committee Ms WM Nkomo
Senior Management Mr LS Malokase Director: Technical Services Department
Senior Management Mr MJ Mahlanyane Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr SS Rabanye Director: Corporate Services
Communications n/a

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates35 99832 24436 64726 42925 445
Service charges88 26971 66662 46562 17958 818
Investment revenue3 5643 2441 934840795
Transfers recognised - operational107 176113 80399 63185 26894 669
Other own revenue75 80011 45512 8208 8947 431
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)310 807232 413213 497183 610187 158
Employee costs100 19292 35079 95671 96069 215
Remuneration of councillors7 1906 9296 4316 1205 670
Depreciation and amortisation34 16829 04330 32733 43233 259
Finance charges13 27314 52010 2584 6713 591
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases68 27160 73253 06862 59453 968
Transfers and subsidies-4 94611 119--
Other expenditure109 858103 462105 85478 59657 258
Total Expenditure332 952311 981297 014257 372222 960
Surplus/(Deficit)-22 145-79 567-83 516-73 762-35 802
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)55 74363 68179 36659 43245 352
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-3 333--4
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions33 598-12 554-4 150-14 3309 554
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year33 598-12 554-4 150-14 3309 554

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure49 2553 51561 929-23925 620
Transfers recognised - capital46 994-7 454-13
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds1 4503 42941 948-1 508-334
Total sources of capital funds48 4433 42949 401-1 508-320

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets106 814114 38891 55566 02159 995
Total non current assets778 855715 528690 149644 692633 430
Total current liabilities258 209235 529173 012129 631103 540
Total non current liabilities68 87068 81369 59352 16152 564
Community wealth/Equity558 590525 573539 098529 306537 321

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating574 968426 273523 57951 069239 926
Net cash from (used) investing-55 345-2 380-5 640-3 489-25 017
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end537 303434 373686 71860 067-64 095

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure85 29163 6096 08631 7681 387
Irregular expenditure33 07757 57952 37135 88325 279
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure12 82913 6429 3672 18724

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population56 89647 37347 625

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1530.1%31.0%33.8%
Population 15 to 6464.0%63.7%60.8%
Population over 655.9%5.3%5.4%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)56.35764.5

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females93.193.292.3

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.7%-0.1%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a34.8
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a46.2

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling6.6%10.1%13.2%
Matricn/a21.420.5
Higher education6.9%6.3%5.1%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households14 79813 70511 991
Average household size3.83.54
Female headed householdsn/a40.539.5
Formal dwellings85.2%80.1%80.4%
Housing ownedn/a77.159.7

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage83.2%78.0%81.2%
Weekly refuse removal78.2%84.3%76.7%
Piped water inside dwelling34.3%12.5%31.9%
Electricity for lighting95.3%94.8%91.9%

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 provided13 24712 88712 88712 65511 992
Number of domestic households/delivery points12 70012 34012 34012 34011 677
Inside the yard12 70012 34012 34012 34011 677
Less than 200m from yard00000
More than 200m from yard00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service4 2604 3494 2953 6743 972

Electricity

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided12 34012 34012 34012 34012 003
Domestic households with access to free basic service4 9194 3494 2953 6743 972

Sewerage and sanitation

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided13 25012 89012 89012 65511 992
Flush toilet - public sewerage12 70012 34012 34012 34011 573
Flush toilet - septic tank000073
Ventilated pit latrine00000
Bucket system00000
Other000031
Domestic households with access to free basic service4 2604 3494 2953 6743 972

Solid waste services

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Does the municipality provide?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided13 24413 24413 24413 24413 244
Domestic households with access to free basic service4 2604 3494 2953 6743 972

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)79 95671 96069 21566 58163 246
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)6 4316 1205 6705 6705 477
Total Employee Positions255213239248320
Total Vacant Employee Positions111395
Total Vacancy Percentage0.4%0.5%0.4%1.2%29.7%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5611122
Managerial Positions - by organogram118888
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram00013

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans