Ntabankulu Local Municipality is a Category B municipality situated in the southern region of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality, in the Wild Coast Region of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
Overview
| Type of municipality: | Local Municipality (Category B) |
| MIIF classification: | B4 (mostly rural) |
| Province: | Eastern Cape |
| District: | Alfred Nzo |
| Municipal code: | EC444 |
| Seat: | Tabankulu |
| Number of wards: | 19 |
| Total area: | 1,385 km² (535 square miles) |
| Population: | 146,423 (in 2022) |
| Executive mayor: | Priscilla Tsileng Sobuthongo |
About
The Ntabankulu Local Municipality was formerly part of the OR Tambo District Municipality, but was transferred to the Alfred Nzo District Municipality after the 2011 municipal election.
Ntabankulu Local Municipality is geographically located in the southern part of the Alfred Nzo District Municipality.
The name Ntabankulu is an isiXhosa word meaning “great or big mountain”, reflecting the mountainous nature of Ntabankulu Municipality.
Ntabankulu Local Municipality comprises 19 wards and covers an area of 1,385 km² (535 square miles), making it the smallest of four local municipalities in the Alfred Nzo District, as it accounts for 13% of its geographical area.
The administrative headquarters/seat of Ntabankulu Local Municipality is in Tabankulu.
Ntabankulu Local Municipality is bordered by:
- Umzimvubu Local Municipality to the west and north
- Winnie Madikizela-Mandela Local Municipality to the northeast
- Ingquza Hill Local Municipality in the OR Tambo District Municipality to the east
- Nyandeni Local Municipality in the OR Tambo District Municipality to the south
- Mhlontlo Local Municipality in the OR Tambo District Municipality to the west
Ntabankulu Local Municipality is the poorest municipality in South Africa, as 85% of its residents live below the poverty line.
Population
According to the South African National Census of 2022, Ntabankulu Local Municipality has a population of 146,423 people, compared to 128,848 in 2016 and 123,821 in 2011.
The municipality has a population growth per annum of 1.63%.
According to the 2022 Census, 37.4% of the population is under the age of 15, 56.1% is between 15 and 64, and 6.5% is over 65.
Racial makeup
According to the 2022 Census, 99.4% of the population in Ntabankulu Local Municipality describe themselves as Black African, 0.4% as Coloured, 0.1% as White, and 0.1% as Indian/Asian.
Languages
According to the 2022 Census, 95.4% of the population speaks isiXhosa as their first language, 1.4% speak English, and 3.4% speak other languages.
Economy
The main economic sectors of Ntabankulu Local Municipality are agriculture, tourism, sand and quarry mining, and forestry.
Municipal council and management
The Ntabankulu municipal council comprises 38 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Nineteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in 19 wards, while the remaining 19 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 31 seats on the council.
| Composition of Council (No. of seats by political party) | – ANC: 31 – EFF: 4 – AIC: 1 – ATM: 1 – DA: 1 |
| Controlling party | ANC |
| Executive Mayor | Priscilla Tsileng Sobuthongo |
| Speaker | Vuyokazi Matwasa |
| Chief Whip | Sesulo Sophaqa |
| Other Council Members | – Nosikhumbuzo Daniel – Inkosi Sindiswa Diko – Eunice N Diko – Nomfumaneko Fundakubi – Mathembinkosi Gweqani – Thabisa Lubisi – Noma India Mbonomtsha – Inkosi Nosisa Mkomanzi – Thembakazi Msuthu – Zolani Mtyaphi – Sophina Ncekana – Madlamini P Ndabeni – Nonzwakazi L Ndamase – Kholeka Nomanzoyiya – Inkosi Mbulelelo J Nompokhwe – Inkosi Anele Sgwiji – Inkosi Zweloxolo P Siyoyo – Nokuthula Sobuthongo – Nontsikeleo Sthunzi – Inkosi Zweliphleela N Zoko |
| Municipal Manager | Ivy Sikhulu-Nqwena |
| Chief Financial Officer | Olwethu Mdudi |
| Senior Management | n/a |
| Communications Officers | – Mluleki Dikane – Lungisile Mzanywa |
Towns/places
Below are the towns/places in Ntabankulu Local Municipality.
- Tabankulu
Contact details
The contact details of Ntabankulu Local Municipality are listed in the table below.
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 234, Ntabankulu, 5130 |
| Physical Address: | ERF 24 Main Street, Ntabankulu, 5140 |
| Telephone: | 039 258 0056 |
| Fax: | 039 258 0173 |
| Email: | customercare@ntabankulu.gov.za |
| Website: | www.ntabankulu.gov.za |
