MunicipalitiesSA

Ugu District Municipality

DC21 District KwaZulu-Natal Governed by ANC

773 402 Population Census 2022
4 790 Square kilometres 161.5 per km2
172 628 Households
33 Council seats

Ugu District Municipality is a district municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 4 790 square kilometres. It coordinates 4 local municipalities: Ray Nkonyeni, Umdoni, uMuziwabantu and Umzumbe. It takes in the towns and settlements of Harding, Hibberdene, Margate, Pennington, Port Edward, Port Shepstone, Scottburgh/Umzinto North and Southbroom.

Census 2022 counted 773 402 residents, making it the 8th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 36th of 257 nationally. That works out to 161.5 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 172 628 households, averaging 4.5 people each. 29.2% of residents are under 15 and 8.4% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 9.1% hold a higher education qualification and 8.8% have had no schooling.

The council has 33 seats across 3 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 19 seats (57.6%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Isaac Sikhumbuzo Mqadi serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mr Vela Owen Mazibuko 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, Ugu scores 38.5 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of E, described as distressed. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R1.5 billion in operating revenue against R1.9 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R454.1 million. At the last census, 36.2% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.0% used electricity for lighting and 33.1% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 19
  • IFP 9
  • DA 5

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Isaac Sikhumbuzo Mqadi ANC
Deputy Mayor Ms Dixie Nciki ANC
Speaker Mr Sizwe Ngcobo ANC
Chief Whip Ms Matho Shozi
Municipal Manager Mr Vela Owen Mazibuko
Chief Financial Officer Mr Kushi Audan General Manager: Budget and Treasury Office
Mayoral Committee Mr Francis Mthokozisi Ngwane
Mayoral Committee Mr George David Henderson
Mayoral Committee Mr Jabulani Sibusiso Ngwane
Mayoral Committee Mr Ncedo Njenga
Mayoral Committee Ms Nosipho Caluza
Senior Management Mr Arthur Mbhele Manager: Administration and Auxiliary Services
Senior Management Mr Bright Khumalo Manager: Environmental Management Services
Senior Management Ms Deidre Jayne Rankin General Manager: Economic Development and Environmental Services
Senior Management Ms Makhosi Gobhozi General Manager: Corporate Services
Senior Management Ms Mokgaetji Mbili Corporate Strategy and Shared Services
Senior Management Mr Mondli Ncane Manager: Youth Development
Senior Management Ms Nonhlanhla Msomi Manager: Policy and Research
Senior Management Ms Ntabiso Mzoto Manager: Supply Chain Management
Senior Management Mr Patrick Mzele Manager: Fleet Management
Senior Management Mr Sonwabile Kati (Chief Audit Executive (CAE))
Senior Management Dr Thuli Mwelase General Manager: Water Services
Senior Management Ms Zimasa Mgwili Acting Manager: Communications and Customer Relations
Communications Mr France Zama Economic Development and Environmental Services
Communications Ms Zimbini Mpurwana Mayoralty and Communications

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 rates-----
Service charges653 085513 537488 925444 946440 704
Investment revenue10 0558 94610 8417 4706 483
Transfers recognised - operational692 711648 244599 370533 163570 495
Other own revenue96 44288 81280 71456 54752 949
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)1 452 2931 259 5391 179 8491 042 1261 070 631
Employee costs586 399540 336516 140413 723405 001
Remuneration of councillors13 23413 09811 7959 8099 719
Depreciation and amortisation237 913248 967228 221226 978229 668
Finance charges48 44027 2397 39622 77117 688
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases247 870174 518161 042155 058166 135
Transfers and subsidies16 01323 31321 6502 78611 736
Other expenditure756 560834 716728 274675 059514 733
Total Expenditure1 906 4301 862 1881 674 5181 506 1841 354 679
Surplus/(Deficit)-454 137-602 648-494 669-464 059-284 048
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)407 532407 160508 512348 809242 618
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions-46 605-195 48813 842-115 249-41 430
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate---122329
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year-46 605-195 48813 842-115 128-41 101

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure8 987 3268 623 3348 422 5078 023 2837 969 979
Transfers recognised - capital621 634631 716653 853482 645363 584
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds8 365 6927 991 6187 768 6547 540 6387 606 395
Total sources of capital funds8 987 3268 623 3348 422 5078 023 2837 969 979

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets312 965218 820262 390167 382525 716
Total non current assets3 841 8653 698 2473 656 1073 465 1803 582 608
Total current liabilities1 634 5611 349 9911 132 602810 180775 431
Total non current liabilities49 47149 67452 83756 43464 169
Community wealth/Equity2 517 4022 712 8902 719 2162 881 0763 309 825

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating14 984 72112 757 0399 394 0074 169 37561 655
Net cash from (used) investing-602 959-603 099-609 007-316 42710
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end14 681 37612 453 5559 084 4354 101 46260 708

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure1 031 7021 099 401431 557-252 415
Irregular expenditure73 772107 143242 351324 546177 752
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure43 40523 4904 519-14 197

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population773 402753 336689 051

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1529.2%38.1%33.2%
Population 15 to 6462.4%57.5%60.2%
Population over 658.4%4.4%6.7%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)60.173.866.2

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females9091.888.4

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.1%2.0%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 schooling8.8%8.4%12.7%
Matricn/a31.923.8
Higher education9.1%8.1%7.2%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households172 628175 146172 899
Average household size4.54.34
Female headed householdsn/a49.950.4
Formal dwellings85.1%58.6%65.6%
Housing ownedn/a72.764.6

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage37.1%20.8%26.4%
Weekly refuse removal33.1%19.7%25.5%
Piped water inside dwelling36.2%21.2%25.4%
Electricity for lighting96.0%84.1%72.2%

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 provided186 609186 609186 609186 470169 108
Number of domestic households/delivery points182 289182 289182 289182 150164 788
Inside the yard59 03559 03559 03558 89641 534
Less than 200m from yard66 41266 41266 41266 41266 412
More than 200m from yard56 84256 84256 84256 84256 842
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 6051 6051 4217475 199

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 provided137 795137 180119 184118 795118 795
Flush toilet - public sewerage36 35636 35617 47517 33617 336
Flush toilet - septic tank6 0446 0446 2946 0446 044
Ventilated pit latrine91 81891 20391 83891 83891 838
Bucket system00000
Other00000
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 5321 5321 3497471 810

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)516 140413 723405 001400 292388 283
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)11 7959 8099 71910 4959 441
Total Employee Positions920840805979981
Total Vacant Employee Positions038346
Total Vacancy Percentage0.0%4.5%0.4%0.4%0.6%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655588
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5601144
Managerial Positions - by organogram3129292931
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram02202

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans