Mhlontlo Local Municipality is a Category B municipality in the northwestern 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: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | Eastern Cape |
| District: | OR Tambo |
| Municipal code: | EC156 |
| Seat: | Qumbu |
| Number of wards: | 26 |
| Total area: | 2,880 km² (1,112 square miles) |
| Population: | 186,391 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Mbulelo Jara |
About
The Mhlontlo Local Municipality was established in terms of section 12 of the Local Government Municipal Structures Act (Act 117 of 1998). As a result of this act, two Transitional Local Councils, Qumbu TLC and Tsolo TLC, and their respective Transitional Councils were merged to form one Municipality, Mhlontlo Local Municipality.
The municipality is named after King Mhlontlo, a king of the Ama-Mpondomise people during the 19th century. King Mhlonto fiercely resisted British colonial rule in the Qumbu, Tsolo, and Sulenkama areas.
The Mhlontlo Municipality is the seat of the AmaMpondomise Kingdom, which is seated at Lower Kroza village near Qumbu.
The Mhlontlo Local Municipality is geographically located inland in the northwestern region of the OR Tambo District Municipality, alongside the N2 National Route between Mthatha and KwaBhaca (formerly Mount Frere), and the R396 Regional Route between Tsolo and Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear).
It is the only local municipality in the OR Tambo district without a coastline.
The Mhlontlo Local Municipality covers an area of 2,880 km² (1,112 square miles), making it the second-largest of five local municipalities in the OR Tambo District, as it accounts for a quarter of its geographical area..
Mhlontlo Local Municipality is bordered by:
- King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality to the south
- Nyandeni Local Municipality to the south and southeast
- Ntabankulu Local Municipality in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality to the east
- Umzimvubu Local Municipality in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality to the north
- Elundini Local Municipality in the Joe Gqabi District Municipality to the west
- Dr AB Xuma Local Municipality in the Chris Hani District Municipality to the southwest
The municipality comprises 26 wards and encompasses the towns of Tsolo and Qumbu, together with the surrounding villages.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Mhlontlo Local Municipality is in Qumbu.
The municipality has three hospitals, namely: the St Lucy Hospital in Ngcolosi village (Tsolo), the Nessie Knight Hospital in Sulenkama village (Qumbu), and the Dr Malizo Mpehle Hospital near the town of Tsolo.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Mhlontlo Local Municipality has a population of 186,391 people, compared to 189,176 in 2016 and 190,745 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of -0.22%.
According to the 2022 Census, 33.3% of the population is under the age of 15, 58.6% is between 15 and 64, and 8.2% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 97.6% of the population in Mhlontlo Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.3% as Coloured, 0.2% as Indian/Asian, and 0.1% as White.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 94.9% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 2.3% speak English, and 2.8% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Mhlontlo Local Municipality are wholesale and retail trade, agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
Municipal council and management
The Mhlontlo municipal council is comprised of 51 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 26 wards, while the remaining 25 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 40 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 40 – EFF: 3 – UDM: 3 – ATM: 2 – DA: 1 – INDEPENDENT: 1 – ISANCO: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Mbulelo Jara |
| Speaker | Eddie Pula |
| Chief Whip | Ntombiyakhe Gcaba |
| Other Council Members | – L Dlova (Budget and Treasury) – M Funo – S Kahla (Corporate Services) – M Mpheleli (Infrastructure) – M Mvanyashe (Community Services) – N Sayiti (Human Settlements) – U Socikwa (Special Programmes Unit and IGR) – S Voko (LEDPARD) – N Zikolo |
| Municipal Manager | Lungile Ndabeni |
| Chief Financial Officer | N.K. Sibobi |
| Senior Management | – TT Madotyeni (Corporate Services) – Mamela Mngcotywa (Manager: Office of the Mayor) – S Ntinzi (Local Development and Planning) – Z Petse (Infrastructure Services) – M Sineke (Community Services) |
| Communications Officers | Sisa Mpehle (Communications and Public Relations) |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Mhlontlo Local Municipality.
- Qumbu
- Tsolo
Contact details
The contact details of Mhlontlo Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 31, Qumbu, 5180 |
| Physical Address: | – 96 Church Street, Qumbu, 5180 (Qumbu Office) – 122 Thurston Street, Tsolo, 5170 (Tsolo Office) |
| Telephone: | – 047 553 7000 (Qumbu Office) – 047 552 7001 (Tsolo Office) |
| Fax: | 047 553 0189 |
| Email: | info@mhlontlolm.gov.za |
| Website: | www.mhlontlolm.gov.za |
