Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about eMadlangeni come from
Every fact on the eMadlangeni page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
Which party controls the council?
Dated reports
On the council's website, no date shown: His Worship Cllr Mzwakhe Lawrence Buthelezi is mayor, according to the municipality's website. The website says he serves under the Inkatha Freedom Party, or IFP.
eMadlangeni Local Municipality. Page is undated.
Where to look: 'His Worship' mayor's profile section ('He serves under Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)'); undated, the page also carries a news item published 12 February 2026; read 2026-10-18
As of 1 Mar 2023: Mzonjani Johannes Mthethwa, the speaker (the councillor who chairs council meetings) of the eMadlangeni municipality, resigned. The municipality is led by the IFP. Mzwakhe Buthelezi is pictured as mayor.
Cape Argus. Published 1 March 2023.
Where to look: paragraph 1 and photo caption
As of 15 Dec 2022: The IFP runs eMadlangeni. It took the council from the ANC. Mzwakhe Buthelezi is mayor.
IOL. Published 15 December 2022.
Where to look: paragraph 2 ('now run by the IFP') and paragraph 9 ('mayor Mzwakhe Buthelezi'); only council control facts used
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 11 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 3 of 3, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). African National Congress: 4 (2 ward, 2 party). Inkatha Freedom Party: 4 (3 ward, 1 party). Democratic Alliance: 1 (1 ward, 0 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). National Freedom Party: 1 (0 ward, 1 party).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
The seats now
Who holds the 11 seats now, counted up to 24 Jun 2026. How we count: This is our own count, not an official IEC table. We start with the 2021 party seats from the IEC. Then we add the party that last won each ward, in 2021 or in a by-election. Party seats stay with their party, and councillors can't switch parties. So only ward by-elections change these totals. An empty seat is counted with the party that last held it. The IEC lists by-elections on 5 Oct 2022, but it does not show who won them. So any ward that changed hands that day is not counted.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: winning party per ward for every by-election since 2021 (dashboard data files: MapsJason/2021/ByElections.js and LoadCouncillorsService); read 2026-10-18
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: ward councillor rows for this council (party per ward elected in 2021)
What the official records say
Audit result
The Auditor-General gave eMadlangeni an unqualified audit opinion with findings for 2024-25. It got the same result in 2023-24.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: 'Audit outcome for 2024-25' box and the change from 2023-24 under it (audit of separate financial statements, finalised by 30 April 2026)
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