Municipalities

Big 5 Hlabisa Local Municipality (KZN276)

Metropolitan, district, and local municipalities across South Africa.

Overview Map Management Demographic Financial Employment Services Resources

Overview

Big 5 Hlabisa Local Municipality (KZN276) provides local government services and manages development priorities within its municipal area. It is responsible for municipal administration, service delivery coordination, and planning functions that support infrastructure and community wellbeing. This page consolidates key public reference details for stakeholders.

Geography, History & Economy

Big 5 Hlabisa Local Municipality is part of uMkhanyakude District Municipality .

MDB code: KZN276

Description: The Big 5 Hlabisa Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated within the uMkhanyakude District in northern KwaZulu-Natal. It is one of four municipalities in the district, making up a quarter of its geographical area. It was established by the amalgamation of The Big 5 False Bay and Hlabisa Local Municipalities in August 2016. Easily accessible off the N2 National Route, it incorporates part of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (previously known as the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park) and is the starting point of the MR4 (LSDI Corridor), which links Hluhluwe to Mozambique. The town of Hluhluwe, which contains major shopping and light servicing facilities, as well as the municipal offices, services the municipality. A large proportion of the land is used for agriculture and game lodge activities and is sparsely settled. The north-eastern parts of the municipality are occupied by fairly densely settled rural traditional communities (Makhasa, Mnqobokasi and Nibela). A major drawcard is the tourism industry centred on the Hluhluwe-uMfolozi Game Reserve, located 280km north of Durban and the oldest proclaimed park in Africa. It consists of 960km² of hilly topography in central Zululand, KwaZulu-Natal, and is known for its rich wildlife and conservation efforts. The park is the only state-run park in KwaZulu-Natal where all the Big Five game occur. Due to conservation efforts, the park now has the largest population of white rhino in the world.

Area: 3 470km²

Cities/Towns: Hlabisa, Hluhluwe

Main Economic Sectors: Agriculture (12.7%), mining (1.4%), manufacturing (8%), electricity (6%), construction (3.9%), trade (13.2%), transport (8.4%), finance (15.8%), community services (30.6%). As contribution to GVA - Source IDP 2024/25

Map

Council & Management

Composition of Council:

IFP 15, ANC 9, EFF 1, INDEPENDENT 1, NFP 1

Controlling Party:

IFP

Mayor:

Mr CT Khumalo (IFP)

Deputy Mayor:

Ms Hlengiwe Nkosi (IFP)

Speaker:

BW Shangase (IFP)

Chief Whip:

n/a

Other Council:

Ms Ndwandwe

Mr TN Ngema

Mr FZ Nkwanyane

LL Ntshangase

Municipal Manager:

Mr LMV Cele

Chief Financial Officer:

Mr JM Nkosi

Senior Management:

Ms CN Danisa (Director: Corporate Sevices)

Mr TA Dlamini (Technical, Planning and Infrastructure)

Mr S Khumalo (Manager: Local Economic Development)

Ms S Mchunu (Manager: Expenditure)

Mr BN Ngwane (Manager: Human Rescources)

Mr MP Phakathi (Manager: Financial Expenditure)

Mrs LN Phakathi (Deputy Director: Office of the MM)

Mr MB Shange (Director: Community Services)

Communications Officers:

Mr MS Jele (Deputy Director: Community Services)

Mr VT Khanyile (Manager)

Demographic Information

	2022	2016	2011
Population	131 755	116 622	107 147
Age Structure
Population under 15	34.9%	40.3%	40.1%
Population 15 to 64	59.8%	55.6%	55.2%
Population over 65	5.3%	4.2%	4.7%
Dependency Ratio
Per 100 (15-64)	67.2	79.9	81.1
Sex Ratio
Males per 100 females	86.2	88.2	85.6
Population Growth
Per annum	2.01%	1.93%	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	16.3%	14.7%	23.3%
Matric	n/a	31.2%	25.4%
Higher education	5.1%	7.1%	3.7%
Household Dynamics
Households	23 136	25 255	20 567
Average household size	5.7	4.6	5.2
Female headed households	n/a	55.5%	56.2%
Formal dwellings	91.6%	70.2%	71.1%
Housing owned	n/a	85.6%	36.7%
Household Services
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	20.3%	9.5%	16.0%
Weekly refuse removal	17.3%	1.6%	10.4%
Piped water inside dwelling	20.0%	11.0%	16.7%
Electricity for lighting	95.1%	70.1%	50.4%

Financial Results

All values: R'000	2024/25	2023/24	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21
AUDIT OUTCOME	n/a	Financially unqualified	Financially unqualified	Financially unqualified	Financially unqualified
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
Property rates	29 094	27 401	24 694	25 319	27 516
Service charges	2 275	2 179	2 126	2 158	2 328
Investment revenue	9 974	9 647	6 161	2 769	1 575
Transfers recognised - operational	164 658	156 899	146 819	152 637	193 106
Other own revenue	10 657	5 565	9 064	3 080	4 590
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	216 659	201 690	188 863	185 963	229 115
Employee costs	90 250	86 281	84 908	83 198	80 759
Remuneration of councillors	11 348	10 467	9 108	8 328	7 262
Depreciation and amortisation	18 206	17 259	18 062	19 114	28 686
Finance charges	1 641	1 477	1 213	917	752
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	-	-	-	-	-
Transfers and subsidies	4 850	3 259	2 033	1 498	2 353
Other expenditure	95 539	87 650	73 168	83 119	95 019
Total Expenditure	221 835	206 393	188 492	196 173	214 832
Surplus/(Deficit)	(5 175)	(4 703)	371	(10 210)	14 283
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)	24 436	30 668	28 568	39 895	27 800
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)	-	532	156	-	111
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	19 261	26 497	29 095	29 685	42 195
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	-	-	-	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	19 261	26 497	29 095	29 685	42 195
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE & FUNDS SOURCES
Capital expenditure	485 023	457 295	405 197	381 878	346 869
Transfers recognised - capital	71 748	77 913	68 512	65 293	53 163
Borrowing	-	-	-	-	-
Internally generated funds	299 266	282 118	240 153	224 573	211 491
Total sources of capital funds	371 014	360 031	308 665	289 865	264 654
FINANCIAL POSITION
Total current assets	132 444	121 119	112 045	94 637	90 150
Total non current assets	280 065	267 487	248 790	241 732	277 750
Total current liabilities	30 188	28 582	29 361	34 343	38 973
Total non current liabilities	16 781	13 745	11 700	10 963	6 517
Community wealth/Equity	346 279	319 781	290 679	261 378	280 215
CASH FLOWS
Net cash from (used) operating	(22 784)	18 226	1 277	93 465	26 450
Net cash from (used) investing	1 556	20 983	20 107	19 643	1 500
Net cash from (used) financing	-	-	-	10	44
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	47 129	120 252	86 115	163 475	27 994
UNAUTHORISED, IRREGULAR, FRUITLESS & WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE
Unauthorised expenditure	n/a	2 649	1 250	230 033	44 749
Irregular expenditure	n/a	1 016	7 024	7 264	8 837
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	n/a	1	0	3 716	318
SOURCE	Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1	Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1	Audited Outcome A1 2026 Q1	Audited Outcome A1 2024	Audited Outcome A1 2023

Employment Statistics

	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Employment
Employment Costs (R’000)	84 908	83 198	80 759	79 090	73 414
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)	9 108	8 328	7 262	7 212	7 420

Total Employee Positions	238	254	252	242	253
Total Vacant Employee Positions	22	11	1	0	0
Total Vacancy Percentage	9.24%	4.33%	0.40%	0.00%	0.00%

Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	5	5	5	5	5
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	0	1	1	0	0
Managerial Positions - by organogram	20	20	20	20	20
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram	10	8	0	0	0

Service Delivery Statistics

	2022/23	2021/22	2020/21	2019/20	2018/19
Water
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Number of domestic households/delivery points	0	0	0	0	0
Inside the yard	0	0	0	0	0
Less than 200m from yard	0	0	0	0	0
More than 200m from yard	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0
Electricity
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	15 528	15 528	15 054	14 653	13 621
Domestic households with access to free basic service	663	474	401	162	700
Sewerage and Sanitation
Does the municipality provide?	No	No	No	No	No
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	0	0	0	0	0
Number of households using:
Flush toilet - public sewerage	0	0	0	0	0
Flush toilet - septic tank	0	0	0	0	0
Ventilated pit latrine	0	0	0	0	0
Bucket system	0	0	0	0	0
Other	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0
Solid Waste Services
Does the municipality provide?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	1 060	1 060	1 060	1 060	1 060
Domestic households with access to free basic service	0	0	0	0	0