Mbhashe Local Municipality is a Category B municipality in the northeastern region of the Amathole 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: | Amathole |
| Municipal code: | EC121 |
| Seat: | Dutywa |
| Number of wards: | 32 |
| Total area: | 3,303 km² (1,275 square miles) |
| Population: | 240,020 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Samkelo Nicholas Janda |
About
The Mbhashe Local Municipality was constituted in terms of the Municipal Structures Act. No. 117 of 1998 (as amended) and comprises the areas that previously formed the Willowvale, Elliotdale, and Dutywa TLCs and TRCs.
Mbhashe Local Municipality is geographically located in the northeastern region of the Amathole District Municipality. It is bound by the Qhora River in the South to the Mncwasa River in the North along the Indian Ocean coastline.
The name Mbashe is an isiXhosa word. The municipality is named after the Mbashe River, which flows from the banks of Ngcobo through Dutywa, Willowvale, and Elliotdale.
Mbhashe Local Municipality covers an area of 3,303 km² (1,275 square miles), making it the third-largest of six local municipalities in the Amathole District.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Mbhashe Local Municipality is in Dutywa.
The municipality comprises 32 wards and is predominantly rural.
Mbhashe Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Mnquma Local Municipality to the south and west
- Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District Municipality to the northwest
- King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality in the OR Tambo District Municipality to the north
- The Indian Ocean to the east
The Mbhashe Local Municipality is famous for being the birthplace of former South African President Thabo Mbeki.
The municipality is also home to the head offices of the AmaXhosa Kingdom at the Nqadu Great Place.
Some of the main tourist attractions in the municipality are: the Mbhashe Cultural Village, Mbanyana Falls, and Donald Wood’s Snooker Room.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Mbhashe Local Municipality has a population of 240,020 people, compared to 277,250 in 2016 and 261,670 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -0.84%.
According to the 2022 Census, 33.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 57.1% is between 15 and 64, and 9.6% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.4% of the population in Mbhashe Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.2% as White, 0.1% as Coloured, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 95.7% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 1.6% speak English, and 2.7% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Mbhashe Local Municipality are general government, community, social, and personal services.
Municipal council and management
The Mbhashe municipal council is comprised of 63 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Thirty-two councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 32 wards, while the remaining 31 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 45 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 45 – UDM: 8 – EFF: 4 – ATA: 1 – ATM: 1 – BPM: 1 – DA: 1 – INDEPENDENT: 1 – PAC: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Samkelo Nicholas Janda |
| Speaker | Babalwa Majavu |
| Chief Whip | Ludwe Mantshiyose |
| Other Council Members | – Nombongo Apleni (Portfolio Head: Budget and Treasury Office) – Nolundi Gxamtwana (Portfolio Head: Community Services) – Mirriam Kungeka Makapela (Portfolio Head: Infrastructure) – Nomvuyiseko Mgedezi (MMC: Developmental Planning) – Fikiswa Ndaule (Portfolio Head: Good Governance and Public Participation) – Nolumanyano Ngomthi (Portfolio Head: Corporate Services) |
| Municipal Manager | Mkhululi Nako |
| Chief Financial Officer | Vuyo Jamjam |
| Senior Management | – Sikhusele Cobokana (Developmental Planning) – Nonurse Mlungu (Community Services) – Misiwe Mpahlwa (Operations) – Zukile Msipha (Infrastructure Services) – Ntombizodwa Nkuhlu (Corporate Services) |
| Communications Officers | Babalwa Magqwanti (Communications Manager/Spokesperson) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Mbhashe Local Municipality.
- Dutywa
- Elliotdale
- Willowvale
Contact details
The contact details of Mbhashe Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 25, Dutywa, 5000 |
| Physical Address: | 454 Streatfield Street, Dutywa, Eastern Cape, 5000 |
| Telephone: | 047 489 5800 |
| Fax: | 047 489 1137 |
| Email: | info@mbhashemun.gov.za |
| Website: | www.mbhashemun.gov.za |
