Msukaligwa Local Municipality is a Category B municipality in the southern region of Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, and is part of the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | Mpumalanga |
| District: | Gert Sibande |
| Municipal code: | MP302 |
| Seat: | Ermelo |
| Number of wards: | 19 |
| Total area: | 6,016 km² (2,323 square miles) |
| Population: | 199,314 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Mapulane Precious Nkosi |
About
Msukaligwa Local Municipality is geographically located in the southern part of Mpumalanga Province.
The municipality was established in 2001 following the completion of the demarcation process and the first democratic local government election in 2000.
The municipality was an amalgamation of the erstwhile Ermelo Transitional Local Council (TLC), Breyten TLC, Chressiemeer Transitional Rural Council (TRC), Lothair TRC, Davel TRC and Sheepmoore TRC.
Msukaligwa Local Municipality comprises 19 wards and covers 6,016 km² (2,323 square miles), making it the largest local municipality in the Gert Sibande District, accounting for 19% of the district’s geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Msukaligwa Local Municipality is in Ermelo.
Msukaligwa Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Govan Mbeki Local Municipality to the west
- Lekwa Local Municipality to the south
- Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality to the south
- Mkhondo Local Municipality to the south and southeast
- Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality to the east and north
- Steve Tshwete Local Municipality in the Nkangala District Municipality to the north
Two national roads pass through Msukaligwa Local Municipality; these are: N17 from Gauteng Province (Johannesburg) to Oshoek onto the border to Eswatini, N11 from Limpopo Province to KwaZulu-Natal Province, and N2 ends in Ermelo ( Mpumalanga Province).
Map
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Msukaligwa Local Municipality has a population of 199,314 people, compared to 164,608 in 2016, and 149,377 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth rate of 2.8% per annum and is the 3rd most populous municipality in the District of Gert Sibande.
According to the 2022 Census, 26.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 69% is between 15 and 64, and 4.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 88.1% of the population in Msukaligwa Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 9.8% as White, 1.1% as Indian/Asian, and 0.6% as Coloured.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 72.6% of the population speaks isiZulu as their first language, 9.8% speak Afrikaans, 8.5% speak siSwati, 3.5% speak English, and 5.6% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Msukaligwa Local Municipality are finance, community services, transport, trade, and mining.
Municipal council and management
The municipality is under S139 administration, effective from October 2018.
The Msukaligwa municipal council comprises 38 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Nineteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 19 wards, while the remaining 19 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.
In the election of 1 November 2021, the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of twenty-four seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 24 – EFF: 7 – DA: 4 – VF PLUS: 2 – ACDP: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Mapulane Precious Nkosi |
| Speaker | Ntombifuthi Sarah Xaba |
| Chief Whip | Pretty Thabile Sibeko |
| Other Council Members | – Thulani Joshua Madlala (MMC: Corporate Services) – Bongani Gladwell Motha (MMC: Planning and Economic Development) – Thenjiwe Cathrine Motha (MMC) – Elizabeth Msezane (MMC: Finance) – Sphiwe Ernest Ngovene (MMC: Community and Social Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Maqhawe Kunene |
| Chief Financial Officer | Phumuzi Jeremiah Nhlabathi |
| Senior Management | – Mfelani Samuel Lukhele (Director: Community and Social Services) – Prometheus Mabuza (Director: Corporate Services) – Hilda Maganya (Director: Planning and Economic Development) – Duma Precious Zodwa (Director: Technical Services) – Bongani Zwane (Manager: Office of the Municipal Manager) |
| Communications Officers | Mandla Zwane |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Msukaligwa Local Municipality.
- Breyten
- Chrissiesmeer
- Davel
- Ermelo
- Lothair
Contact details
The contact details of Msukaligwa Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | PO Box 48, Ermelo, 2350 |
| Physical Address: | Corner Kerk and Taute Street, Ermelo |
| Telephone: | 017 801 3500 |
| Fax: | 017 801 3851 |
| Website: | www.msukaligwa.gov.za |
| National Anti-Corruption Hotline: | 0800 701 701 |