MunicipalitiesSA

uMshwathi Local Municipality

KZN221 Local KwaZulu-Natal Governed by ANC

118 478 Population Census 2022
1 866 Square kilometres 63.5 per km2
24 987 Households
27 Council seats

uMshwathi Local Municipality is a local municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, covering 1 866 square kilometres. It falls within the uMgungundlovu District Municipality. It takes in the towns and settlements of Cool Air, Dalton, New Hanover and Wartburg.

Census 2022 counted 118 478 residents, making it the 41st most populous of the 54 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal and 168th of 257 nationally. That works out to 63.5 people per square kilometre. Population is spread thinly across the area. There are 24 987 households, averaging 4.7 people each. 28.9% of residents are under 15 and 6.8% are over 65. Among residents aged 20 and over, 6.0% hold a higher education qualification and 11.0% have had no schooling.

The council has 27 seats across 6 parties, with ANC holding the largest share at 16 seats (59.3%). ANC governs the municipality. Mr Godfrey Mandla Zondi (Chairperson: Finance Portfolio Committee) serves as executive mayor (ANC), and Mrs Simphiwe Ndebele 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, uMshwathi scores 69.8 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 R233.2 million in operating revenue against R251.0 million in expenditure, an operating deficit of R17.7 million. At the last census, 29.4% of households had piped water inside the dwelling, 95.0% used electricity for lighting and 28.1% had refuse removed weekly.

Council and management

Seats: Electoral Commission, 2021 local government elections

  • ANC 16
  • IFP 4
  • EFF 3
  • DA 2
  • ABC 1
  • PA 1

Office bearers

Mayor Mr Godfrey Mandla Zondi (Chairperson: Finance Portfolio Committee) ANC
Deputy Mayor Ms N Mdunge ANC
Speaker Ms S Mbatha-Ntuli ANC
Chief Whip NE Cebekhulu
Municipal Manager Mrs Simphiwe Ndebele
Chief Financial Officer Mr Vusumuzi Mdlalose
Mayoral Committee AM Mbuthu
Mayoral Committee B Mncube
Mayoral Committee BK Mkhize
Mayoral Committee BT Zondi
Mayoral Committee EB Mbongwe
Mayoral Committee H Ngubane
Mayoral Committee HN Chamane
Mayoral Committee K Gwala
Mayoral Committee M Mncwabe
Mayoral Committee MA Mbhele
Mayoral Committee MP Majozi EXCO Member
Mayoral Committee MZ Mbewana
Mayoral Committee N Dladla
Mayoral Committee N Khanyile
Mayoral Committee NW Gasa
Mayoral Committee PM Mlobeli
Mayoral Committee R Thomas
Mayoral Committee SG Shezi EXCO Member
Mayoral Committee SK Nxumalo EXCO Member
Mayoral Committee TA Papiyana
Mayoral Committee TP Nxumalo
Senior Management Mr BT Zondi General Manager: Community Services
Senior Management Mrs Simphiwe Maxine Ndebele General Manager: Technical Services
Senior Management Mrs Thulile Mathenjwa General Manager: Corporate Services
Communications Mr Sibusiso Mkhithi Manager

Finances

National Treasury, audited outcomes

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
AUDIT OUTCOMEFinancially unqualifiedClean auditFinancially unqualifiedFinancially unqualifiedQualified audit

Financial performance

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Property rates57 35257 75147 23349 59045 649
Service charges3 3532 8912 7252 6632 839
Investment revenue10 37310 4816 9412 7091 890
Transfers recognised - operational147 522141 801131 483127 954134 967
Other own revenue14 64514 34023 20321 99310 028
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)233 245227 264211 586204 909195 373
Employee costs100 45496 17492 42882 70775 244
Remuneration of councillors12 72512 61010 32411 10510 217
Depreciation and amortisation19 73523 54133 32221 58738 916
Finance charges-----
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases5665 0222 8944 1432 692
Transfers and subsidies6 974-111 139572
Other expenditure110 51792 86293 23186 900141 986
Total Expenditure250 970230 208232 210207 581269 626
Surplus/(Deficit)-17 726-2 944-20 625-2 672-74 253
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)31 22732 78542 87333 97727 091
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)9 760----
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions23 26129 84122 24831 305-47 162
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate-----
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year23 26129 84122 24831 305-47 162

Capital expenditure & funds sources

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Capital expenditure37 542122 52981 29648 069712 408
Transfers recognised - capital31 59680 84651 91712 646696 433
Borrowing-----
Internally generated funds5 94641 68329 37935 4233 717
Total sources of capital funds37 542122 52981 29648 069700 150

Financial position

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Total current assets176 292160 370170 917154 596123 143
Total non current assets394 206364 016345 460325 773584 679
Total current liabilities57 50234 95349 42335 49030 072
Total non current liabilities---627-
Community wealth/Equity489 734459 591444 706381 646724 911

Cash flows

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Net cash from (used) operating-41 607-36 739139 3491 3711 553
Net cash from (used) investing-----
Net cash from (used) financing-----
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end68 182-36 739139 3491 3711 553

Unauthorised, irregular, fruitless & wasteful expenditure

Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/21
Unauthorised expenditure3 032--9 16177 091
Irregular expenditure3 9762 547--125
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure-----

Source: Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1

People

Statistics South Africa, Census

Measure202220162011
Population118 478111 64596 793

Age structure

Measure202220162011
Population under 1528.9%38.2%33.3%
Population 15 to 6464.3%57.9%61.4%
Population over 656.8%3.9%5.3%

Dependency ratio

Measure202220162011
Per 100 (15-64)55.472.662.8

Sex ratio

Measure202220162011
Males per 100 females89.192.689.3

Population growth

Measure202220162011
Per annum2.0%1.1%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 schooling11.0%10.2%15.9%
Matricn/a25.921.3
Higher education6.0%8.4%4.4%

Household dynamics

Measure202220162011
Households24 98729 08224 826
Average household size4.73.83.9
Female headed householdsn/a48.849
Formal dwellings80.9%56.3%62.3%
Housing ownedn/a70.253.3

Household services

Measure202220162011
Flush toilet connected to sewerage32.1%12.0%20.5%
Weekly refuse removal28.1%8.2%14.0%
Piped water inside dwelling29.4%11.0%20.7%
Electricity for lighting95.0%80.0%72.7%

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 provided14 86314 68314 68314 13314 133
Domestic households with access to free basic service1 2441 2073 5941 6431 750

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 provided3 9183 9183 9183 9183 918
Domestic households with access to free basic service2 5372 5375575570

Staffing

National Treasury

Measure2022/232021/222020/212019/202018/19
Employment Costs (R’000)92 42882 70775 24475 36667 848
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)10 32411 10510 2179 9649 956
Total Employee Positions242245242227241
Total Vacant Employee Positions03026
Total Vacancy Percentage0.0%1.2%0.0%0.9%2.5%
Managerial Positions – S54A and S5655555
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S5600000
Managerial Positions - by organogram1818151718
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram03023

Published documents

Hosted by National Treasury

Annual Reports

Audit Reports

Audited Financial Statements

Integrated Development Plans