Municipalities

Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality (LIM334)

Metropolitan, district, and local municipalities across South Africa.

Overview Map Management Demographic Financial Employment Services Resources

Overview

Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality (LIM334) provides local government services and manages local development within its municipal area. It is responsible for municipal administration, service delivery functions, and planning processes that shape local infrastructure and community outcomes. This profile consolidates key reference information for residents and stakeholders.

Geography, History & Economy

Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is part of Mopani District Municipality .

MDB code: LIM334

Description: The Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality is a Category B municipality found in the Mopani District in the Limpopo Province. It is situated in the north-eastern part of Mopani, just less than 1km from the Kruger National Park border. It is the largest of five municipalities in the district, making up over a third of its geographical area. It is 220km from Polokwane (previously Pietersburg) and Mbombela (previously Nelspruit), and serves as a central gateway to the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Park through the Giriyondo Border. It is an entry and exit point to the Mozambican side of the Xai-Xai beaches. The area has vast tourism and manufacturing investment opportunities.

Area: 7 490km²

Cities/Towns: Gravelotte, Leydsdorp

Main Economic Sectors: Agriculture, manufacturing - Source IDP 2024/25

Map

Council & Management

Composition of Council:

ANC 24, EFF 5, DA 4, NIP 2, MIM 1, VF PLUS 1

Controlling Party:

ANC

Mayor:

Ms Merriam Malatji (ANC)

Deputy Mayor:

n/a

Speaker:

Mr Oliver Mabunda (ANC)

Chief Whip:

Ms Didodo Mary Rapatsa

Other Council:

Mr Sobrant de Beer (Chairperson: Community and Social Services)

Mrs Mokgadi Paulina Mailula (Chairperson: Planning and Development)

Mr Richard Makasela (Chairperson: Finance)

Mr Pontsho Mashumu (Exco Member)

Mr Thompson Nkuna (Chairperson: Corporate Services)

Mr Victor Rapatsa (Chairperson: Technical Services)

Ms Jamela Selapyane (Acting)

Municipal Manager:

Ms ST Mokobi

Chief Financial Officer:

Mr A Nzimande

Senior Management:

Mr T Hlongwane

Mr MC Mashale (Manager: LED)

Ms Motlalepula Mphachoe

Ms JB Selapyyane

Communications Officers:

Mr Jonas Mahesu (Municipal Spokesperson)

Demographic Information

	2022	2016	2011
Population	188 603	168 937	150 637
Age Structure
Population under 15	31.8%	31.4%	32.9%
Population 15 to 64	63.2%	65.2%	63.2%
Population over 65	5.0%	3.4%	3.9%
Dependency Ratio
Per 100 (15-64)	58.1	53.3	58.2
Sex Ratio
Males per 100 females	91.8	95.2	94.1
Population Growth
Per annum	2.18%	2.61%	n/a
Labour Market
Unemployment rate (official)	n/a	n/a	37.4%
Youth unemployment rate (official) 15-34	n/a	n/a	50.2%
Education (aged 20 +)
No schooling	14.3%	12.9%	14.6%
Matric	n/a	30.6%	23.3%
Higher education	10.0%	9.2%	11.0%
Household Dynamics
Households	51 651	49 100	41 114
Average household size	3.7	3.4	3.7
Female headed households	n/a	38.9%	39.5%
Formal dwellings	98.1%	96.7%	96.4%
Housing owned	n/a	77.0%	61.6%
Household Services
Flush toilet connected to sewerage	48.8%	36.8%	42.6%
Weekly refuse removal	43.2%	42.2%	48.8%
Piped water inside dwelling	41.0%	30.6%	37.1%
Electricity for lighting	97.7%	98.1%	90.8%

Financial Results

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
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
Property rates	128 877	127 740	135 075	133 398	95 114
Service charges	149 243	137 825	138 523	131 390	121 622
Investment revenue	4 881	5 120	4 026	2 434	2 718
Transfers recognised - operational	223 452	215 659	196 070	182 025	205 154
Other own revenue	79 171	66 927	88 426	107 701	206 134
Total Revenue (excluding capital transfers and contributions)	585 624	553 272	562 120	556 948	630 743
Employee costs	179 827	167 310	172 122	165 677	143 244
Remuneration of councillors	17 260	16 987	18 189	17 262	15 304
Depreciation and amortisation	49 456	43 073	47 422	86 780	84 208
Finance charges	22 144	22 902	20 847	18 266	18 641
Inventory consumed and bulk purchases	180 212	162 442	129 620	130 847	103 886
Transfers and subsidies	214	10 676	7 390	9 854	-
Other expenditure	312 844	394 498	51 936	197 672	129 128
Total Expenditure	761 957	817 887	447 526	626 360	494 412
Surplus/(Deficit)	(176 333)	(264 615)	114 594	(69 411)	136 331
Transfers and subsidies - capital (monetary allocations)	35 105	49 065	42 559	47 155	49 099
Transfers and subsidies - capital (in-kind)	-	51 703	332	11 899	-
Surplus/(Deficit) after capital transfers & contributions	(141 228)	(163 847)	157 484	(10 357)	185 430
Share of surplus/(deficit) of associate	-	-	-	-	-
Surplus/(Deficit) for the year	(141 228)	(163 847)	157 484	(10 357)	185 430
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE & FUNDS SOURCES
Capital expenditure	40 973	140 761	51 980	89 087	-
Transfers recognised - capital	26 265	49 986	15 293	10 687	-
Borrowing	-	-	-	-	-
Internally generated funds	14 707	90 775	36 687	78 400	-
Total sources of capital funds	40 973	140 761	51 980	89 087	-
FINANCIAL POSITION
Total current assets	2 057 160	1 912 579	1 928 073	1 436 888	1 267 535
Total non current assets	1 280 728	1 266 906	1 247 008	1 244 502	1 268 041
Total current liabilities	2 362 771	2 134 030	1 939 056	1 763 971	1 448 713
Total non current liabilities	210 641	190 907	201 940	217 855	216 315
Community wealth/Equity	905 703	1 018 395	876 602	709 923	685 118
CASH FLOWS
Net cash from (used) operating	(70 092)	537 023	65 079	890 155	-
Net cash from (used) investing	(36 950)	(68 780)	(19 232)	-	-
Net cash from (used) financing	(19 017)	1 293	(17 642)	-	-
Cash/cash equivalents at the year end	(73 054)	526 255	84 925	959 475	69 320
UNAUTHORISED, IRREGULAR, FRUITLESS & WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE
Unauthorised expenditure	n/a	84 816	-	61 590	27 120
Irregular expenditure	n/a	20 879	21 969	40 549	28 554
Fruitless & wasteful expenditure	n/a	7 194	183	509	87
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)	172 122	165 677	143 244	147 649	128 892
Remuneration of councillors (R’000)	18 189	17 262	15 304	18 850	17 227

Total Employee Positions	653	503	468	442	644
Total Vacant Employee Positions	248	2	3	1	221
Total Vacancy Percentage	37.98%	0.40%	0.64%	0.23%	34.32%

Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	6	6	6	6	6
Vacant Managerial Positions – S54A and S56	0	1	0	0	0
Managerial Positions - by organogram	22	16	19	19	20
Vacant Managerial Positions - by organogram	0	0	3	1	1

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?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Number of households and non-domestic customers to which provided	51 879	51 318	46 087	45 995	45 995
Domestic households with access to free basic service	419	421	823	423	1 269
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	23 941	23 941	22 941	22 941	22 941
Domestic households with access to free basic service	334	252	523	423	423