King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality is a Category B municipality in the southwestern region of the OR Tambo 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: | OR Tambo |
| Municipal code: | EC157 |
| Seat: | Mthatha |
| Number of wards: | 36 |
| Total area: | 3,019 km² (1,166 square miles) |
| Population: | 476,558 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Nyaniso G Nelani |
About
The King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality was established before the 2000 local government elections when the Mqanduli and Mthatha Transitional and Rural Councils were merged.
The municipality was named after the ruler of the Thembu Kingdom, King Sabata Jonguhlanga Dalindyebo, who was regarded as a unifying figure to the people of both Mqanduli and Mthatha and was regarded as a hero who fought for the freedom of Transkei and South Africa.
The King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality is geographically located in the southwestern region of the OR Tambo District Municipality on the Indian Ocean coast.
The Municipality is the home of the first post-apartheid president of South Africa, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
The King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality covers an area of 3,019 km² (1,166 square miles), making it the largest of five local municipalities in the OR Tambo District, as it accounts for a quarter of its geographical area.
The municipality comprises 36 wards and includes the towns of Mthatha and Mqanduli, as well as their surrounding rural areas.
The King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Mhlontlo Local Municipality to the north
- Elundini Local Municipality in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality to the north
- Nyandeni Local Municipality to the east
- The Indian Ocean to the southeast
- Mbhashe Local Municipality in the Amathole District Municipality to the south
- Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District Municipality to the west
The King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality has its administrative headquarters/seat in Mthatha and satellite offices in Mqanduli.
The municipality comprises a range of settlement forms and land uses, namely, rural settlements, urban areas, privately owned farms, and small holdings.
The majority population of the municipality resides in the rural areas, where they still practice cultural traditions. The urban areas are concentrated around the towns.
The King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality still retains many of the earliest buildings of the neoclassical style that was popular during the colonial times.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality has a population of 476,558 people, compared to 488,349 in 2016 and 450,287 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 0.55%.
According to the 2022 Census, 31.8% of the population is under the age of 15, 62.3% is between 15 and 64, and 5.9% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 98.5% of the population in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.8% as Coloured, 0.3% as White, and 0.3% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 92.8% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 3.6% speak English, and 3.6% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality are trade, community services, and finance.
Municipal council and management
The King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal council is comprised of 72 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 36 wards, while the remaining 36 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 forty-eight seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 48 – UDM: 11 – EFF: 5 – ATM: 3 – AIC: 1 – CI: 1 – DA: 1 – INDEPENDENT: 1 – ISANCO: 1 – MRRA: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Nyaniso G Nelani |
| Speaker | Nomamfengu Siyo-Sokutu |
| Chief Whip | B Mlanjeni |
| Other Council Members | – MS Dudumayo (MMC: Rural and Economic Development) – Z Gana (MMC: Budget and Treasury) – YR Gwadiso (MMC: Planning, Research and Intergovernmental Relations [IGR]) – N Gwebani (MMC: Corporate Services) – A Ketse (MMC: Social Services and Special Programmes) – M Marasha (MMC: Public Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Ward 29) – Ziyanda Nokayi (MMC: Infrastructure) – S Nyengane (MMC: Community Services) – N Sibeko (MMC: Human Settlement and Disaster Management) |
| Municipal Manager | Ngamela Pakade |
| Chief Financial Officer | Xolani Sikobi |
| Senior Management | – Fundisile Guleni (Director: Community Services) – Khaya Magadla (Director: Corporate Services) – Mbuyiseli Mandla (Director: Local Economic Development) – Unathi Mnqokoyi (Director: Technical Services) – Zininzi Ndzelu (Director: Human Settlements) – Khaya Timakwe (Acting Director: Public Safety) |
| Communications Officers | M Sonwabo |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality.
- Mqanduli
- Mthatha (previously Umtata)
Contact details
The contact details of King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 45, Mthatha, 5099 |
| Physical Address: | Munitata Building, Sutherland Street, Mthatha, Eastern Cape |
| Telephone: | 047 495 1124 / 047 501 4000 |
| Fax: | 047 531 3128 |
| Email: | communications@ksd.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ksd.gov.za |
| Municipal Accounts Enquiry: | – Phone: 047 495 1270 – Email: accounts@ksd.gov.za |
| Disaster Services: | 047 501 4296 |
| Police: | 10111 |
| Ambulance: | 10177 |
