uThukela District Municipality (DC23)

Municipality

Area: Area: 11 134km² | MDB Code: | MDB code: DC23

Physical Address

36 Lyel Street / 33 Forbes Street, uMnambithi (Ladysmith)

Postal: PO Box 116, uMnambithi (Ladysmith), 3370

Contact Details

Phone: 036 638 5100 / 036 638 2400

Accounts: 036 638 5100/036 638 2400
waccounts@uthukela.gov.za

Website: Visit Website

Facebook: Facebook Page

Electricity: n/a

Refuse & Waste: n/a

Roads: n/a

Service Delivery: 086 010 4257

Water: 086 010 4257
wqueries@uthukela.gov.za

🌐 Visit Municipality Website 📞 Call Municipality 📘 Facebook Page 🗺️ Get Directions 🗺️ View Full Map

Operating Hours

WORKING HOURS
Monday	08:30 – 16:00
Tuesday	08:30 – 16:00
Wednesday	08:30 – 16:00
Thursday	08:30 – 16:00
Friday	08:30 – 15:15
Saturday	Closed
Sunday	Closed

* Closed on Public Holidays

About uThukela District Municipality (DC23)

Description: The uThukela District Municipality is a Category C municipality and is located on the western boundary of the KwaZulu-Natal Province. It is bordered by three other district municipalities: Amajuba, uMzinyathi and uMgungundlovu. It consists of three local municipalities: Okhahlamba, Alfred Duma and Inkosi Langalibalele. The district derives its name from one of the major rivers in KwaZulu-Natal, the uThukela River, which rises from the Drakensberg Mountains and supplies water to a large portion of KZN, as well as Gauteng. It is predominately rural and is characterised by poor socio-economic indicators such as low revenue base, poor infrastructure, limited access to services, and low economic base. Main Economic Sectors: Agriculture and forestry, finance, insurance, real estate and business services, wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, tourism, transport, construction, electricity – Source IDP 2023/24

ℹ️ Important Notice

This page provides informational guidance only for uThukela District Municipality (DC23). For official confirmation of municipal services, leadership, and contact details, always verify through the municipality’s official website: www.uthukela.gov.za. Additional verified information is available at www.gov.za.

Cities and Towns

https://municipalities.co.za/contacts/123/uthukela-district-municipality

Cities and Towns Served by uThukela District Municipality (DC23) Municipality

Colenso Municipality Van Reenen Municipality uMnambithi (Ladysmith) Municipality

This municipality provides services and support to the areas listed above. For official municipal information, visit the official municipality website.

Municipal Leadership

Mayor: Mr Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala (Chairperson: Finance Portfolio Committee)(IFP)

Deputy Mayor: Mr M Mkhize (IFP)

Speaker: Mrs TY Nqubuka (IFP)

Chief Whip: n/a

Municipal Manager: Mr LS Jili

Chief Financial Officer: Mr BB Sithole

Other Council: n/a

Other Council:

Mr MM Khoza (Chairperson: Infrastructural Portfolio Committee)

Mr AS Mazibuko

Ms NW Mchunu

Mr TDJ Van Rensburg (Chairperson: Municipal Public Accounts Committee)

Mr F Zuma (Chairperson: Corporate Services Portfolio Committee)

Senior Management:

Chief Financial Officer:

Mr BB Sithole

Communications Officers: Mr Jabulani Mkhonza

Demographic Information

Age Structure
	2022	2016	2011
Population	789 092	706 588	668 072
Population under 15	30.5%	37.1%	36.8%
Population 15 to 64	63.5%	58.6%	58.5%
Population over 65	6.0%	4.3%	4.7%
Dependency Ratio
Per 100 (15-64)	57.5	70.6	70.9
Sex Ratio
Males per 100 females	87.2	89.5	87.0
Population Growth
Per annum	1.62%	1.27%	n/a
Labour Market
Unemployment rate (official)	n/a	n/a	n/a
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34	n/a	n/a	n/a
Education (aged 20 +)
No schooling	9.9%	10.0%	14.0%
Matric	n/a	33.3%	26.5%
Higher education	7.6%	6.6%	6.0%
Household Dynamics
Households	172 197	161 788	147 143
Average household size	4.6	4.4	4.5
Female headed households	n/a	52.7%	52.7%
Formal dwellings	84.1%	69.8%	65.9%
Housing owned	n/a	79.0%	51.1%
Household Services
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	46.5%	29.0%	33.9%
Weekly refuse removal	45.2%	31.3%	33.2%
Piped water inside dwelling	40.7%	22.3%	28.7%
Electricity for lighting	94.8%	85.4%	74.5%

Financial Information

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
All values: R’000	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
AUDIT OUTCOME	n/a	Qualified audit	Qualified audit	Qualified audit	Qualified audit
Property rates	–	–	–	–	–
Service charges	280 382	295 617	229 402	259 287	271 055
Investment revenue	6 613	8 557	5 958	3 922	5 357
Transfers recognised – operational	650 924	586 406	545 552	516 839	535 441
Other own revenue	75 820	79 347	52 990	111 088	131 635
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	1 013 739	969 927	833 902	891 135	943 488
Employee costs	404 820	361 224	349 172	366 528	350 386
Remuneration of councillors	6 284	6 154	6 389	6 463	6 364
Depreciation and amortisation	89 413	86 484	87 352	81 732	72 621
Finance charges	19 234	16 352	8 614	6 649	2 738
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	106 642	97 299	44 877	62 022	152 171
Transfers and subsidies	–	3 285	3 120	–	–
Other expenditure	705 355	629 586	598 515	514 319	708 593
Total Expenditure	1 331 747	1 200 384	1 098 039	1 037 712	1 292 873
Surplus/(Deficit)	(318 009)	(230 457)	(264 137)	(146 577)	(349 385)
Transfers and subsidies – capital (monetary allocations)	267 242	291 328	244 868	290 719	293 785
Transfers and subsidies – capital (in-kind)	–	–	–	–	–
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	(50 767)	60 871	(19 269)	144 142	(55 600)
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	–	–	–	–	–
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	(50 767)	60 871	(19 269)	144 142	(55 600)
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE & FUNDS SOURCES
Capital expenditure	–	–	–	–	275 281
Transfers recognised – capital	(4 349)	–	–	–	–
Borrowing	–	–	–	–	–
Internally generated funds	–	–	–	–	31
Total sources of capital funds	(4 349)	–	–	–	31
FINANCIAL POSITION
Total current assets	310 043	373 384	325 347	353 960	310 552
Total non current assets	3 551 722	3 405 558	3 253 786	3 179 378	3 035 254
Total current liabilities	1 334 557	1 047 255	868 609	781 111	674 880
Total non current liabilities	41 595	40 776	33 837	32 277	29 012
Community wealth/Equity	2 485 612	2 690 911	2 676 674	2 711 776	2 641 914
CASH FLOWS
Net cash from (used) operating	870 883	756 563	797 989	1 074 042	941 765
Net cash from (used) investing	(218 103)	(218 990)	(193 232)	(236 947)	(226 959)
Net cash from (used) financing	–	–	–	–	–
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	658 589	551 262	619 127	1 392 297	(79 216)
UNAUTHORISED, IRREGULAR, FRUITLESS & WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE
Unauthorised expenditure	n/a	256 335	155 450	137 886	62 344
Irregular expenditure	n/a	385 200	383 091	307 371	82 826
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	n/a	11 798	48 523	14 186	3 846
SOURCE	Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1	Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1	Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1	Audited Outcome A1 2024	Audited Outcome A1 2023

Municipal Services

Water
	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Does the municipality provide?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	123 492	123 081	122 392	121 664	121 664
Number of domestic households/delivery points	122 432	122 021	121 332	120 604	120 604
Inside the yard	77 327	76 916	76 266	75 577	75 577
Less than 200m from yard	28 589	28 589	28 589	28 589	28 589
More than 200m from yard	16 516	16 516	16 477	16 438	16 438
Domestic households with access to free basic service	1 373	1 227	2 310	9 800	9 800
Electricity
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0
Sewerage and Sanitation
Does the municipality provide?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	136 529	134 529	133 489	132 958	132 958
Number of households using:
Flush toilet – public sewerage	47 390	47 390	47 390	47 390	47 390
Flush toilet – septic tank	2 993	2 993	2 993	2 993	2 993
Ventilated pit latrine	41 541	39 541	38 511	37 980	37 980
Bucket system	0	0	0	0	0
Other	44 017	44 017	44 017	44 017	44 017
Domestic households with access to free basic service	1 373	1 227	2 310	9 800	9 800
Solid Waste Services
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0

Water

086 010 4257
wqueries@uthukela.gov.za

Electricity

n/a

Refuse and Waste

n/a

Roads

n/a

Service Delivery

086 010 4257

Municipality Map

uThukela District Municipality (DC23) map

Frequently Asked Questions

Tshepo Shekeshe

I visited the Licensing Department today at 13:30 to renew my licence disc and was turned away by Security, who claimed the office was already closed due to long queues. Being turned away at 13:30 is completely unacceptable and absurd, especially for a public service office meant to serve the community. There was no clear communication, no proper queue management, and no consideration for members of the public who make time during working hours to be assisted. This reflects very poor service delivery and a lack of accountability.

Pleasantly surprised at how efficient the process today was compared to what I remember it being. I was in and out in just about an hour. Arrived at 07:20, walked out by 08:20. I had all my required documents, copies andforms filled out before hand. The staff were friendly.

Given Savage

Poor service

Don M

Arrived an hour early for my booked time slot. Waited and hour past that to be assisted. If you are renewing your driver's license and you don't have your eye test done beforehand, you will sit and wait for everyone who has an eye test to be assisted first, no matter what time anyone booked. Come with an eye test. One lady asked if it would be better to leave and go get an eye test and then come back, the man said yes. When I asked the man if we would have to wait for those with tests to be finished before being assisted he got VERY defensive and refused to answer. Apparently the request for communication is offensive to this poor little man's ego. But miraculously then those of us without the test were finally assisted. I am actively sitting and watching this same man berate a poor woman for something, beyond rude and actually completely unacceptable, even aggressively opening and slamming the door. He's on a power trip. The lady who ended up assisting me was good. But all in all, terrible.

Mamta Mithal

Had an 08:40 confirmed appointment to renew my drivers license. Was advised by the licensing office to get there an hour early. Got there at 07:30. Waited in line for 1 hour and 10 minutes, got to the eye testing machine at 08:40 on the dot and was back in my car by 09:10. Seriously not as bad as I was expecting it to be. Special kudos goes out to Tshepo Dipholo who took my test and photo and got me to the cashier quick sticks while fillowing strict and thorough sanitising protocols for all the equipment I touched. Also such a courteous and friendly guy. I'm shocked to be giving such a high rating but it really wasn't too bad. They could do better with sign posting, communication and queue management inside the building but all things considered, this wasn't a bad experience at all. Go there like you're on a mission, be tough, don't get pushed around, speak up (respectfully) and you'll get done quick.

nonthuthuko locardia mahaole

Must give credit where its due. While the place needs obvious maintenance. The process was seamless, I got there way before my appointment time and had 7 or more people in front of me, yet I was out in less than an hour. Well done to the guys, all were super happy to help even though it was the afternoon around lunch time.

Tumi M

I am only rating this because I couldn’t select 0. Randburg License Department what is the purpose of booking a slot if I will end up waiting in the queue for hours on end? It is things like this that make public service offices and departments a drag for most South Africans. You guys need to do better especially with the service. Other branches thrive on giving their patrons good service. Really a wasted opportunity especially given that our lives don’t revolve around your incompetency.