Intsika Yethu Local Municipality is a Category B municipality located in the southeastern 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: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | Eastern Cape |
| District: | Chris Hani |
| Municipal code: | EC135 |
| Seat: | Cofimvaba |
| Number of wards: | 21 |
| Total area: | 2,873 km² (1,109 square miles) |
| Population: | 128,101 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Khanyiswa Mdleleni |
About
The Intsika Yethu Local Municipality is geographically located in the southeastern part of the Chris Hani District Municipality.
The name Intsika Yethu is an isiXhosa word meaning “our pillars”.
The Intsika Yethu Local Municipality covers an area of 2,873 km² (1,109 square miles), making it the fourth-largest of six local municipalities in the Chris Hani District, as it accounts for 8% of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Intsika Yethu Local Municipality is in Cofimvaba.
The municipality is divided into 21 wards.
The Intsika Yethu Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality to the east
- Sakhisizwe Local Municipality to the north
- Emalahleni Local Municipality to the northwest
- Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality to the west
- Amahlathi and Mnquma Local Municipalities in the Amathole District Municipality to the south
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Intsika Yethu Local Municipality has a population of 128,101 people, compared to 152,159 in 2016 and 150,718 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -1.58%.
According to the 2022 Census, 31.6% of the population is under the age of 15, 55.9% is between 15 and 64, and 12.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.4% of the population in Intsika Yethu Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.2% as Coloured, 0.1% as White, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 95.9% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 1.5% speak English, and 2.6% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Intsika Yethu Local Municipality are agriculture, community services, and trade.
Municipal council and management
The Intsika Yethu municipal council is comprised of 42 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-one councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 21 wards, while the remaining 21 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 35 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 35 – EFF: 4 – DA: 1 – PAC: 1 – UDM: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Khanyiswa Mdleleni |
| Speaker | Yanga Zicina |
| Chief Whip | N Ntsaluba |
| Other Council Members | N Mafanya (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Community Services) Mrs V Matomela (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Local Economic Development) Ms N Mlokoti (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Governance and Admin) Mr B Mpengesi (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Corporate Services) Ms N Nkota (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Planning and Development) Mr M Skotana (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Infrastructure Development and Planning) Mr M Toni (Exco Member / Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury) |
| Municipal Manager | Mthembu Mabono |
| Chief Financial Officer | n/a |
| Senior Management | n/a |
| Communications Officers | Z Tshangana |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Intsika Yethu Local Municipality.
- Cofimvaba
- Tsomo
Contact details
The contact details of Intsika Yethu Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | Private Bag X1251, Cofimvaba, 5380 |
| Physical Address: | 201 Main Street, Cofimvaba |
| Telephone: | 047 874 8700 |
| Fax: | 047 874 0010 |
| Email: | info@intsikayethu.gov.za |
| Website: | www.intsikayethu.gov.za |
