- A new Statistics SA report shows that 28 municipalities – a quarter of them in the North West – generate more than 89% of their own income.
- But 25 municipalities in the Eastern Cape and Free State depend on national government for more than 83% of their income.
- On average, 28% of South African municipal income comes from national government
Some 28 municipalities – a quarter of them in the North West – generate more than 89% of their own income, judging from a new survey by Statistics South Africa.
StatsSA has analysed the income of municipalities across the country as part of its Quarterly Financial Statistics of Municipalities survey
A municipality can generate its own income via property taxes, service charges, and fines – as well as levies on water, electricity, sanitation and refuse removal. Municipalities also sometimes charge users for the use of their facilities, such as sports grounds.
The latest data, compiled at the end of December 2018, show that more than on average 28% of municipal income is from national government, via grants and subsidies.
But the reliance on national government differs a lot depending on where you are in South Africa.
See also: Gauteng metros lost R5 billion in electricity last year – but Ekurhuleni is doing a lot better than Joburg and Tshwane
The Statistics SA survey shows that there are 28 municipalities that only rely on national government grants for up to 10.6% of their total income. Seven of these municipalities are in the North West, while the Free State has six.
These are the municipalities that are most the financially independent from national government:
North West
Mahikeng
Ramotshere Moiloa
Lekwa-Teemane
Mamusa
Tswaing
Kgetlengrivier
Rustenburg
Free State
Mohokare
Mantsopa
Masilonyana
Tswelopele
Moqhaka
Phumelela
Eastern Cape
Amahlathi
Enoch Mgijima
Sakhisizwe
Ntabankulu
Northern Cape
Hantam
Renosterberg
Gamagara
Limpopo
Lephalale
Greater Giyani
Makhuduthamaga
Western Cape
Theewaterskloof
George
KwaZulu-Natal
Mpofana
Nkandla
Gauteng
Ekurhuleni
While the City of Ekurhuleni is the only large city that earned more than 89% of its own income, on average, South Africa's big metropolitan councils generate 83% of their income themselves.
Most dependent municipalities
Some 32 municipalities – 25 of which are in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga – are almost totally dependent on funding transfers from national government. More than 82.5% of their income is from national government grants and subsidies.
Examples include Engcobo in the Eastern Cape, which sources 95% of its income from grants and subsidies, and Kagisano-Molopo in North West, which depends on grants and subsidies to supplement 86% of its budget, Statistics SA says.
"This is despite the fact that municipalities are required by legislation to collect their own income. This, however, is not possible in many cases due to various factors, such as the poor income base of that constituency and non-payment of services by residents."
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