Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Endumeni come from
Every fact on the Endumeni 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
As of 8 Sep 2026: KZN COGTA MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi used Section 154 of the Constitution. The MEC appointed governance specialist Thando Manda to give technical support. Manda will work with Mayor Mkhize, the municipal manager and the council.
The Witness. Published 8 September 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-3 and 'Manda will work alongside Mayor Mkhize...' paragraph
As of 21 Aug 2026: Endumeni was the only one of the 257 municipalities that had not approved its 2026/27 budget. The council failed to approve it on 18 June 2026. On 14 July 2026 the Provincial Executive Committee told it to approve the budget by 31 July 2026. If it did not, the council would be closed down early.
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Published 21 August 2026.
Where to look: Reply, paragraphs (1)(a)-(1)(c)
As of 3 Aug 2026: Endumeni missed the 31 July 2026 final deadline to approve its budget. Five ANC and two DA councillors rejected the proposal put forward by Mayor Mcebo Mkhize. Five IFP councillors and one ABC councillor supported it.
The Witness. Published 3 August 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-2 and 6 ('five ANC and two DA councillors rejected the proposal, while five IFP councillors and one ABC councillor supported it')
As of 17 Jul 2026: Endumeni, with mayor Mcebo Mkhize, failed three times to approve its 2026/27 budget. It was given until 31 July 2026. Otherwise the provincial government would use Section 139(4) of the Constitution (the province steps in to run the council).
The Witness. Published 17 July 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-2, 5, 7 and 11
As of 1 Jul 2026: The DA's two Endumeni councillors refused to support the budget of the administration led by the IFP.
Sunday Tribune. Published 1 July 2026.
Where to look: paragraphs 2-3 and 6
As of 21 Nov 2024: Mcebo Mkhize (IFP) was elected mayor 7 to 6 over the ANC's Zitha Shelembe. Mkhize had IFP and DA votes, against the ANC and ABC. This came after Siyabonga Ndlovu (IFP) resigned following a DA motion of no confidence (a council vote to remove the mayor or speaker). The council is IFP 5, ANC 5, DA 2 and ABC 1.
Daily News. Published 21 November 2024.
Where to look: paragraphs 1-5
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 13 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: p. 2 of 2, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). African National Congress: 5 (3 ward, 2 party). Inkatha Freedom Party: 5 (2 ward, 3 party). Democratic Alliance: 2 (1 ward, 1 party). Abantu Batho Congress: 1 (1 ward, 0 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 13 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 Endumeni a qualified audit opinion for 2024-25. That is better than in 2023-24, when it got a disclaimer of opinion.
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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