City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is a Category A municipality that forms the local government of the East Rand region of the Gauteng Province of South Africa.

Overview

Type of municipality:Metropolitan (Category A)
Province:Gauteng
Municipal code:EKU
Seat:Germiston
Wards:112
Total area:1,975 km² (763 square miles)
Population:4,066,691 (in 2022)
Controlling party:ANC/EFF/AIC Coalition
Mayor:Nkosindiphile Xhakaza

About

The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is geographically situated in the eastern region of Gauteng and stretches from Alberton in the west to Springs in the east, and south down to Nigel.

The word Ekurhuleni means “place of peace” in XiTsonga and refers to the fact that the East Rand townships were the site of severe political violence between supporters of the Inkatha Freedom Party and the African National Congress (ANC) in the early 1990s, before South Africa’s first non-racial elections in 1994.

The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality was established on 5 December 2000 after merging the Eastern Gauteng Services Council, the Khayalami Metropolitan Council, and the previous municipalities of Alberton, Benoni, Boksburg, Brakpan, Edenvale/Lethabong, Germiston, Kempton Park/Tembisa, Nigel and Springs.

The City of Ekurhuleni is embedded in the liberation struggle and has a turbulent and politically violent history during the transition period from apartheid to democracy.

The city is home to the Chris Hani Memorial at the Thomas Nkobi Memorial Park in Boksburg, the memorial consists of the resting place of Chris Hani, and the Wall of Remembrance which recognizes the historical events, places, and people associated with the liberation struggle of South Africa.

The administrative headquarters/seat of Ekurhuleni is in Germiston.

Ekurhuleni is one of the eight metropolitan municipalities of South Africa, the other seven being: the City of Johannesburg, the City of Tshwane, eThekwini, Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay, Mangaung, and the City of Cape Town.

The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality covers an area of 1,975 km² (763 square miles).

The City of Ekurhuleni is bordered by: the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality to the north, the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality to the west, Sedibeng District Municipality to the south, and Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga to the east.

The City is highly urbanised and is known as “Africa’s Workshop”. Over 99% of the population lives in urban settlements ranging from informal settlements to elite urban residential suburbs.

The network of airports, roads, rail lines, telephones, electricity grids, and telecommunications found in the City of Ekurhuleni rivals that of America and Europe.

Ekurhuleni can be regarded as the transportation hub of the country as it is home to South Africa’s busiest airport, OR Tambo International Airport, which is located in Kempton Park, South Africa’s largest railway hub, several of South Africa’s modern freeways and expressways, the Maputo Corridor Development, direct rail, road and air links connecting Ekurhuleni to Durban, and the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link to Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Map

A map of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality
A map of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality

Population

The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is one of the most densely populated areas in Gauteng and South Africa, this is because five of the 20 most populated townships in South Africa are situated in the Metro.

According to the South African National Census of 2022, the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality has a population of 4,066,691 residents, compared to 3,379,104 in 2016, and 3,178,470 in 2011.

The municipality has a population growth per annum of 2.39%.

According to the 2022 Census, 22.1% of the population is aged under 15, 72.8% is between 15 and 64, and 5% is over 65.

Racial makeup

According to the 2022 Census, 85.3% of the population in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 10.3% as White, 2.5% as Coloured, and 1.8% as Indian/Asian.

Languages

According to the 2022 Census, the first language of 28.6% of the population is isiZulu, while 11.9% speak English, 11.8% speak Afrikaans, 2.4% speak Sepedi, and 45.3% speak other languages.

Economy

The economy of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is larger and more diverse than that of most small countries in Africa. It accounts for nearly a quarter of Gauteng’s economy, which in turn contributes over a third of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The main economic sectors in the City of Ekurhuleni are manufacturing, mining, community services, trade, finance and business services, construction, transport, and electricity.

Municipal council and management

The City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality is governed by a 224-member city council.

Of the 224 council members, 112 are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 112 wards, while the remaining 112 are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received.

No party obtained a majority of seats on the council in the 2021 South African municipal election.

The table below shows the council makeup after the 2021 Municipal Elections.

Controlling PartyANC/EFF/AIC Coalition
Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party)ANC: 86
DA: 65
EFF: 31
ACTIONSA: 15
VF PLUS: 8
PA: 4
AIC: 3
IFP: 3
ACDP: 2
ATM: 1
COPE: 1
ICM: 1
IRASA: 1
NFP: 1
PAC: 1
UDM: 1
Executive MayorNkosindiphile Xhakaza
Deputy Executive Mayorn/a
SpeakerNthabiseng Tshivhenga
Chief WhipJongizizwe Dlabathi
Other Council Members– Nkululeko Dunga (MMC: Finance)
– Kgopelo Hollo (MMC: Human Settlements)
– Leshaka Manamela (MMC: Environmental Resources and Waste Management Services)
– Sizakele Masuku (MMC: Community Safety)
– Andile Mngwevu (MMC: Roads and Transport Planning)
– Thembi Msane (MMC: Water, Sanitation)
– N Ngodwana (Corporate and Shared Services )
– Mzayifani Ngwenya (Energy)
– Nomadlozi Nkosi (MMC: Development Planning and Real Estate)
– Bridget Thusi (MMC: Community Services)
Municipal ManagerImogen Mashazi
Chief Financial OfficerKagiso Lerutla (Group CFO)
Senior Management– Kemi Behari (HOD: Corporate and Legal Services)
– Sizwe Cele (HOD: Roads and Storm Water)
– Caiphus Chauke (HOD: Economic Development)
– Manyane Chidi (HOD: Facilities and Real Estates)
– Linda Gxasheka (HOD: Human Resource and Development)
– Lindiwe Hleza (Chief Audit Executive)
– Mabela Jonathan (Head: EPMO)
– Zanele Katembo (HOD: Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture)
– Modise Koetle (Secretary to Council)
– Tsholofelo Koopedi (HOD: Strategy and Corporate Planning)
– Andile Mahlalutye (HOD: Human Settlements)
– Landela Mahlati (HOD: Transport and Fleet Management)
– Isaac Mapiyeye (Chief of Police)
– Thokozani Maseko (HOD: Water and Sanitation)
– Moloko Monyepao (Chief Information Officer)
– Dr Gilbert Motlatla (HOD: Health and Social Development)
– Lesego Sentsho (HOD: Services Delivery Coordination)
– Tshilidzi Thenga (HOD: Energy)
Palesa Tsita (HOD: City Planning)
Communications Officers– Zweli Dlamini (Chief Specialist Media Relations [Spokesperson])
– Wandile Madliwa (DH: Brand Management and Stakeholder Engagements)

Towns/Places

Below are some towns/places in the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

  • Alberton
  • Bedfordview
  • Benoni
  • Birchleigh
  • Boksburg
  • Brakpan
  • Clayville
  • Daveyton
  • Dunnottar
  • Edenvale
  • Geduld
  • Germiston
  • Katlehong
  • Kempton Park
  • Kwa-Thema
  • Machenzieville
  • Nigel
  • Olifantsfontein
  • Springs
  • Tembisa
  • Tokoza
  • Vosloorus
  • Vorsterkroon

Contact details

The contact details of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality are listed in the table below.

Postal address:Private Bag X1069, Germiston, 1400
Physical address:Head Office – Civic Centre, 14 Queen Street, Germiston
Telephone:0860 543 000
Email:call.centre@ekurhuleni.gov.za
Website:www.ekurhuleni.gov.za