Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality is one of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities, governing 1 957 square kilometres of Eastern Cape with no district municipality above it.
The essentials
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| MDB code | NMA |
| Province | Eastern Cape |
| Population | 1 190 496 |
| Households | 307 931 |
| Area | 1 957 km2 |
| People per km2 | 608.3 |
| Council seats | 120 |
| Parties in council | 13 |
| Governing party | ANC/EFF/NA/AIC/PAC Coalition |
| Executive mayor | Babalwa Lobishe |
Money
In its most recent audited year Nelson Mandela Bay reported R17.4 billion in operating revenue against R19.0 billion in expenditure, an operating deficit of R1.6 billion. Its audit outcome was recorded as qualified audit.
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Financial health grade | D | Under strain |
| Score out of 100 | 43.2 | Ranked 3 of 8 metros |
| Operating margin | -9.0% | Operating costs exceeded revenue |
| Current ratio | 1.67:1 | Short-term assets cover short-term bills |
| Months of cash | 2.7 | At least a month of operating cover |
| Irregular spending | 19.6% | Share of expenditure flagged by the Auditor-General |
Household services
| Service | Nelson Mandela Bay | All 8 metros average |
|---|---|---|
| Piped water inside dwelling | 82.3% | 71.6% |
| Flush toilet connected to sewerage | 93.5% | 85.6% |
| Electricity for lighting | 96.5% | 95.1% |
| Weekly refuse removal | 88.8% | 81.3% |
How it compares with the other metros
Nelson Mandela Bay ranks 3 of the eight metropolitan municipalities on financial health. Ranked against all 257 municipalities in the country, it sits in the weaker band.
| Metro | Grade | Score | Operating margin | Months of cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town | B | 81.1 | 4.6% | 3.6 |
| eThekwini | C | 56.5 | -4.7% | 4.9 |
| Nelson Mandela Bay | D | 43.2 | -9.0% | 2.7 |
| City of Johannesburg | E | 38.9 | -3.4% | 1.5 |
| City of Ekurhuleni | E | 38.7 | -4.8% | -3.4 |
| Buffalo City | E | 38.6 | -18.1% | 5.2 |
| Mangaung | E | 34.8 | -10.8% | 9.7 |
| City of Tshwane | E | 27.8 | 2.3% | -4.8 |
What the figures suggest
Nelson Mandela Bay spent more on day-to-day operations than it collected, an operating deficit of R1.6 billion. A deficit has to be funded from somewhere, usually by delaying payments to creditors or drawing down cash. Cash cover sits between one and three months, within but not far above the range Treasury regards as adequate. Short-term assets cover short-term obligations.
Who runs it
The council has 120 seats across 13 parties, and is governed by ANC/EFF/NA/AIC/PAC Coalition. The executive mayor is Babalwa Lobishe of the ANC. All of these positions are contested at the local government elections on 4 November 2026.
In context
Nelson Mandela Bay is one of 39 municipalities in Eastern Cape. See the full Nelson Mandela Bay profile for contact details, the complete council, five years of audited figures and published documents, or put it beside another municipality in the comparison tool.
Common questions
How many people live in Nelson Mandela Bay?
Census 2022 recorded 1 190 496 residents across 1 957 square kilometres, which works out to 608.3 people per square kilometre.
What is Nelson Mandela Bay’s annual budget?
It reported R19.0 billion in operating expenditure and R17.4 billion in operating revenue in its most recent audited year.
Who is the mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay?
Babalwa Lobishe of the ANC. The full council and senior management are listed on the Nelson Mandela Bay profile, which is updated as appointments change.
Figures on this page come from National Treasury, Statistics South Africa and the Auditor-General, as set out in the sources and methodology. Read the methodology