MunicipalitiesSA

uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality

KZN271 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by Hung Council

191 660 Population Census 2022
4 977 Square kilometres 38.5 per km2
34 686 Households
39 Council seats

uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 4 977 square kilometres. It falls within the uMkhanyakude District Municipality. Its main centre is Mbazwana.

Census 2022 counted 191 660 residents, making it the 28th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 117th of 257 nationally. That works out to 38.5 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 34 686 households, averaging 5.5 people each. 32.4% of residents are under 15 and 5.2% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 4.6% hold a higher education qualification and 24.4% have had no schooling.

The council has 39 seats across 7 parties, with IFP holding the largest share at 17 seats (43.6%). Hung Council governs the municipality. Mr TS Khumalo serves as executive mayor (IFP), and Mr Nkosinathi Myeni 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, Umhlabuyalingana scores 62.5 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “financially unqualified”. In 2024/25 it reported R307.9 million in operating revenue against R318.3 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R10.4 million. At the last census, 26.5% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 80.3% used electricity for lighting and 22.0% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • IFP 17
  • ANC 16
  • EFF 2
  • ABMM 1
  • ACDP 1
  • DA 1
  • NFP 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr TS Khumalo IFP
Deputy Mayor Ms EZ Mthsali NFP
Speaker Ms MD Mathenjwa IFP
Chief Whip Mr ZV Mthembu
Municipal Manager Mr Nkosinathi Myeni
Chief Financial Officer Mrs NP Mkhabela Acting
Mayoral Committee Ms HK Gumede
Mayoral Committee Mr KC Mthembu
Mayoral Committee Mr LD Tembe
Mayoral Committee Ms PT Vumase
Mayoral Committee Ms ZM Mhlongo
Senior Management n/a
Communications Mr Lindokuhle Motha
Communications Mr Senzo Zwane
Communications Mr Thulani Gumede

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 rates28 49426 06525 79923 05322 943
Service charges470470470624624
Investment revenue11 6569 8817 5912 6811 996
Transfers recognised - operational251 088237 974221 624196 901224 415
Other own revenue16 23024 9951 5826 9513 646
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)307 938299 385257 065230 210253 624
Employee costs95 09288 51976 59373 95076 666
Remuneration of councillors15 59715 72414 59213 81512 988
Depreciation and amortisation40 47738 69925 73827 90124 584
Finance charges4691 54746023617
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases2 1784 2293 4261 8843 297
Transfers and subsidies21 35821 13017 95216 02313 624
Other expenditure143 158179 283135 526119 725107 909
Total Expenditure318 328349 130274 286253 534239 086
Surplus/(Deficit)-10 390-49 745-17 221-23 32314 538
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)40 76850 69847 47645 49547 134
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)-38 076711 351-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions30 37839 02830 32623 52361 673
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year30 37839 02830 32623 52361 673

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure39 547135 783189 779134 432138 986
Transfers recognised - capital23 246122 281151 312114 22645 493
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds16 30113 50238 46720 20692 605
Total sources of capital funds39 547135 783189 779134 432138 098

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets129 144104 208115 255124 49494 490
Total non current assets436 927428 171377 704342 495333 220
Total current liabilities67 12363 79463 40268 04748 143
Total non current liabilities-16161616
Community wealth/Equity468 570429 542399 216351 880317 879

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating71 79560 63548 814135 515396 196
Net cash from (used) investing-39 189-45 430---
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end131 550118 231151 163211 839396 196

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure-----
Irregular expenditure36 50247 08623 56016 68125 102
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure57334412 696979

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population191 660172 077156 772

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1532.4%40.7%40.1%
Population 15 to 6462.4%54.9%54.8%
Population over 655.2%4.4%5.1%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)60.28282.5

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females86.288.384.5

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.0%2.1%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 schooling24.4%21.9%30.5%
Matricn/a26.922
Higher education4.6%6.9%4.5%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households34 68639 61433 871
Average household size5.54.34.6
Female headed householdsn/a53.953.9
Formal dwellings90.0%70.0%57.7%
Housing ownedn/a75.149.1

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage26.0%1.0%5.3%
Weekly refuse removal22.0%0.4%1.4%
Piped water inside dwelling26.5%1.6%5.3%
Electricity for lighting80.3%19.1%14.2%

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 provided5 9545 9545 9545 7673 595
Domestic households with access to free basic service284386386520520

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 provided489489489520520
Domestic households with access to free basic service284489489520520

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)76 59373 95076 66672 11766 611
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)14 59213 81512 98813 02612 472
Total Employee Positions191175175191154
Total Vacant Employee Positions147163
Total Vacancy Percentage7.3%4.0%0.6%3.1%2.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5601100
Managerial Positions - by organogram5992020
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram02000

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans