MunicipalitiesSA

uMlalazi Local Municipality

KZN284 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by IFP

241 416 Population Census 2022
2 214 Square kilometres 109.0 per km2
45 119 Households
55 Council seats

uMlalazi Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 2 214 square kilometres. It falls within the King Cetshwayo District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Eshowe, KwaGingindlovu and Mtunzini.

Census 2022 counted 241 416 residents, making it the 19th most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 96th of 257 nationally. That works out to 109.0 people per square kilometre. Settlement is concentrated rather than scattered. There are 45 119 households, averaging 5.4 people each. 31.9% of residents are under 15 and 6.6% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.4% hold a higher education qualification and 15.9% have had no schooling.

The council has 55 seats across 6 parties, with IFP holding the largest share at 30 seats (54.5%). IFP governs the municipality. Mrs QT Xulu serves as executive mayor (IFP), and Mr Nhlakanipho N Shandu 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, uMlalazi scores 61.9 out of 100 for 2024/25, a grade of C, described as fair. Its most recent audit outcome was recorded as “clean audit”. In 2024/25 it reported R521.4 million in operating revenue against R557.7 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R36.3 million. At the last census, 31.3% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 96.0% used electricity for lighting and 28.6% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • IFP 30
  • ANC 18
  • EFF 4
  • ABC 1
  • DA 1
  • NFP 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mrs QT Xulu IFP
Deputy Mayor Mr MM Ngema IFP
Speaker Mr JK Powell IFP
Chief Whip Mr M Dludla
Municipal Manager Mr Nhlakanipho N Shandu
Chief Financial Officer Ms N Mgobhozi
Mayoral Committee CK Khumalo Exco
Mayoral Committee K Ntanzi Exco
Mayoral Committee KS Mathabela Exco
Mayoral Committee MM Cebekhulu Exco
Mayoral Committee MMM Ntuli Exco
Mayoral Committee SA Makhathini Exco
Mayoral Committee SD Khubisa Exco
Mayoral Committee WL Ngema Exco
Senior Management Mr B Mthembu Acting Director: Engineering Services
Senior Management Ms Futhi Mahaye Community Services
Senior Management Mr KC Zulu Acting Director: Planning and Economic Development, Director: Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Khulekani Nxumalo Revenue
Senior Management Mr Mthokozisi Ngubane Senior Town Planner
Senior Management Ms Phindile Ngema Chief Building Inspector
Senior Management Mrs Priscilla Chetty Corporate Services
Senior Management Mr Sanele Duma SCM
Senior Management Mr SC Mkhwanazi Acting Director: Community Services
Senior Management Mr Themba Mnguni Expenditure
Senior Management Mr Xolani Blose Chief Fire Officer
Communications Ms Luleka Mbonambi Acting: Communications Manager

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEClean auditClean auditClean auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualified

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates74 57471 88168 42266 47264 871
Service charges119 724107 26994 55093 53387 959
Investment revenue10 63210 1128 0776 4375 990
Transfers recognised - operational288 573255 028241 200230 218247 825
Other own revenue27 93326 39719 86918 68823 004
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)521 436470 687432 117415 348429 648
Employee costs197 376186 746175 108169 461150 770
Remuneration of councillors25 18925 15823 22320 68422 192
Depreciation and amortisation51 34154 70556 07954 25946 252
Finance charges3 3643 147277319362
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases119 589106 59489 84083 78070 432
Transfers and subsidies5 5498 1605 0097 5088 973
Other expenditure155 308138 820148 482135 234127 559
Total Expenditure557 715523 331498 017471 244426 540
Surplus/(Deficit)-36 280-52 644-65 900-55 8973 109
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)59 12561 94147 36340 56945 627
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)--1802 800-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions22 8469 297-18 357-12 52848 735
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year22 8469 297-18 357-12 52848 735

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure66 8320-339-5 6441 010
Transfers recognised - capital48 96822 87814 4763 25142 199
Borrowing-23 403---
Internally generated funds17 864-46 281-14 81516 24829 297
Total sources of capital funds66 8320-33919 49971 496

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets211 978181 140148 387153 665191 601
Total non current assets896 102874 211838 664832 024878 280
Total current liabilities136 427105 78570 14759 90567 869
Total non current liabilities55 55854 42930 55631 43029 691
Community wealth/Equity916 096895 137886 342894 354897 928

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-31 299732 869814 039163 603-191 328
Net cash from (used) investing-64 641-101 454-58 222-59 608-76 287
Net cash from (used) financing-2 28826 087---
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end-24 270731 460829 471203 581-121 085

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure1 2047 54713 19425 544-
Irregular expenditure3 7461 4428 12618 70935 139
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure1 242--21

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population241 416223 140213 601

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1531.9%43.2%37.2%
Population 15 to 6461.5%51.6%57.2%
Population over 656.6%5.2%5.6%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)62.693.874.9

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females85.986.985.4

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum1.2%1.0%n/a

Labour market

Measure202220162011
Unemployment rate (official)n/an/a35.2
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34n/an/a45.1

Education (aged 20 +)

Measure202220162011
No schooling15.9%20.1%22.5%
Matricn/a28.623
Higher education6.4%6.1%5.5%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households45 11946 95345 062
Average household size5.44.84.7
Female headed householdsn/a56.655.3
Formal dwellings80.9%62.4%60.7%
Housing ownedn/a80.750.6

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage30.9%12.3%19.4%
Weekly refuse removal28.6%13.2%15.8%
Piped water inside dwelling31.3%15.2%19.6%
Electricity for lighting96.0%81.3%58.2%

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?YesYesYesYesYes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided48 26147 93847 93847 61145 717
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 483801783670855

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 provided19 94619 94619 94619 94619 796
Domestic households with access to free basic service7 483801783670614

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)175 108169 461150 770158 753132 135
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)23 22320 68422 19222 32621 510
Total Employee Positions495449435499476
Total Vacant Employee Positions718300
Total Vacancy Percentage1.4%4.0%0.7%0.0%0.0%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5666666
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5611200
Managerial Positions - by organogram1919191919
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram11100

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans