The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the central region of the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B2 (large town) |
| Province: | Eastern Cape |
| District: | Chris Hani |
| Municipal code: | EC139 |
| Seat: | Komani |
| Number of wards: | 34 |
| Total area: | 13,584 km² (5,245 square miles) |
| Population: | 297,055 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Madoda Papiyana |
About
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality was established after the August 2016 local elections by merging the Inkwanca, Tsolwana, and Lukhanji Local Municipalities.
The municipality is named after Enoch Mgijima, a Xhosa prophet and evangelist, who was born in Bulhoek, the Eastern Cape Province.
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is geographically located in the central part of the Chris Hani District Municipality.
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality covers an area of 13,584 km² (5,245 square miles), making it the largest of six local municipalities in the Chris Hani District, as it accounts for over a third of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is in Komani (previously known as Queenstown).
The municipality is divided into 34 wards.
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Emalahleni Local Municipality to the east
- Intsika Yethu Local Municipality to the southeast
- Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality to the west
- Walter Sisulu Local Municipality in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality to the north
- Raymond Mhlaba and Amahlathi Local Municipalities in the Amathole District Municipality to the south
The municipality has a rich historical background dating back to the 18th century, with several key places of interest and monuments.
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is an economic hub, due to its strategic position in the middle of the national corridors to the KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Gauteng Provinces.
Parts of the Enoch Mgijima municipal area are developed with the relevant infrastructure so that modes of transport such as road, railway, and a small airport are available to be utilised.
Other parts of the municipality are experiencing a low economic growth rate, with high unemployment levels and poverty in the towns.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality has a population of 297,055 people, compared to 267,011 in 2016 and 250,776 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.64%.
According to the 2022 Census, 27.6% of the population is under the age of 15, 63.9% is between 15 and 64, and 8.5% is over 65.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality are agriculture, finance and business, general government services, community services, wholesale, retail, and catering.
Municipal council and management
The municipality is under S139 administration, effective from April 2022.
The Enoch Mgijima municipal council is comprised of 68 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-four councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 34 wards, while the remaining 34 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 34 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 43 – DA: 7 – EFF: 6 – THE INDEPENDENTS: 5 – ISANCO: 2 – INDEPENDENT: 2 – ATM: 1 – PA: 1 – UDM: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Madoda Papiyana |
| Speaker | Noluthando Nqabisa |
| Chief Whip | Nombuyiselo Selka Ndlebe |
| Other Council Members | – Ongama Adonisi (Portfolio Head: Human Settlements) – Thembeka Bunu (Portfolio Head: Integrated Planning and Economic Development) – Unathi Galada (Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury) – Siphelele Lali (Portfolio Head: Community Services) – Phaphama Madubedube (Portfolio Head: Corporate Services) – Mhlangabezi Mangcotywa (Portfolio Head: Technical Services) – Zukiswa Rhalane (Portfolio Head: Public Safety) |
| Municipal Manager | Ayakha Ntengenyane |
| Chief Financial Officer | Estelle Mbele Tyali |
| Senior Management | – Khulile Maceba (IPED) – Thulani Malingatshoni (Acting Director: Technical Services) – Nomthandazo Mazwayi (Corporate Services) – Aphiwe Mkhangelwa (Community Services) – DA van Wyk (Chief Operations Officer) |
| Communications Officers | Lonwabo Kowa (Spokesperson) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.
- Hofmeyr
- Komani (formerly known as Queenstown)
- Molteno
- Sada
- Sterkstroom
- Tarkastad
- Whittlesea
- Thornhill
Contact details
The contact details of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | 70 Cathcart Road, Town Hall, Komani, 5320 |
| Physical Address: | 70 Cathcart Road, Town Hall, Komani |
| Telephone: | 045 807 2606 |
| Fax: | 045 967 0467 |
| Email: | communications@enochmgijima.gov.za |
| Website: | www.enochmgijima.gov.za |
Maladministration
In October 2021, a sports facility costing R20 million was opened. Originally intended as a floodlit stadium with ablutions, borehole, and water reticulation, the final deliverable was far removed from this. The facility is derelict and has never hosted a sports event.
In 2020, the Art Centre closed down. It is now a vandalised ruin.
In April 2021, the Chris Hani Craft Hub burned down under suspicious circumstances.
In October 2021, the Heritage building burned down under suspicious circumstances.
In January 2022, the Historic Komani Town Hall mysteriously burned down under suspicious circumstances.
In January 2023, an unknown figure known as “Mr. Lazola” founded the movement called Komani Protest Action, which roused the people of Komani to protest against the municipality’s leaders. The protests lasted for at least 2 weeks and gained national attention, causing a city-wide shutdown which had not been done since 1986. The municipality promised to deliver change as per the requests of the people of Komani, but never did.
After an internal leadership dispute and legal action from the municipality and businesses in the area, the leadership of the movement split up and is now led by Mncedisi Mbengo.
As of January 2024, the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is under administration, one of 32 in the country, and three in the Eastern Cape, where the provincial executive has intervened due to maladministration
As of 21 February 2024, Shereen Noble of the Auditor General of South Africa dubbed Enoch Mgijima Municipality as the “worst run municipality in South Africa”, citing the fact that the municipality is in debt of R1.4 billion. Noble highlighted that R220.5 million of expenditure was deemed wasteful and fruitless, and total current liabilities exceeded total current assets by R984 million.
The municipality suffers from constant power outages due to consistent substation faults. These occasionally go from ward to ward, are daily, and last for weeks to months, depending on the ward.
The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality suffers from some of the worst roads in the country, with the R140 between Komani and Lady Frere (officially renamed Cacadu) being dubbed as “one of the most dangerous roads in South Africa”.
A good 70%-85% of the municipality is without functional streetlights.
