Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Msunduzi come from
Every fact on the Msunduzi 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 29 May 2026: Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla presented Msunduzi's 2026/27 budget. It is the last budget before the November 2026 elections.
IOL. Published 29 May 2026.
Where to look: paragraph 1 and photo caption (party not stated in this article)
As of 6 Aug 2025: Msunduzi is led by the ANC. Mzimkhulu Thebolla, a former ANC regional chairperson, is mayor. An ANC task team's report was expected to recommend changes to the political leadership.
IOL. Published 6 August 2025.
Where to look: paragraphs 1, 3-5 and 10
As of 18 Jul 2025: A parliamentary reply of 18 July 2025 says Msunduzi was under a Section 139(1)(b) intervention between 2018 and 2024. It says the province increased its Section 154 support after the intervention was lifted. This included a technical support expert.
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Published 18 July 2025.
Where to look: Reply, part (a)(i) and the paragraphs on the 'Section 139 exit plan through section 154'
As of 18 Aug 2022: The ANC has 40 of 81 seats. It won the mayoral election at Msunduzi with the support of the African Independent Congress, which holds one seat. The coalition (a group of parties that run the council together) led by the ANC controls the council with 41 seats against the opposition's 40. Mzimkhulu Thebolla is serving his second term as mayor.
Mail & Guardian. Published 18 August 2022.
Where to look: Msunduzi paragraphs 2-4 (counting from 'Msunduzi has become the third')
As of 9 Nov 2021: Mzimkhulu Meshack Thebolla was elected in Msunduzi in 2021. Thebolla was an ANC PR councillor (a seat from the party's list, to match its share of the votes).
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: KZN225 - Msunduzi: ANC PR(9) THEBOLLA MZIMKHULU MESHACK
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 81 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: pp. 3-4 of 4, seat table, Total Party Seats column
Every party
The seats now, by party (ward seats and party seats). African National Congress: 40 (29 ward, 11 party). Democratic Alliance: 16 (10 ward, 6 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 10 (0 ward, 10 party). Inkatha Freedom Party: 8 (1 ward, 7 party). Abantu Batho Congress: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). African Christian Democratic Party: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). African Independent Congress: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Justice and Employment Party: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Patriotic Alliance: 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 81 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 Msunduzi an unqualified audit opinion with findings for 2024-25. That is better than in 2023-24, when it got a qualified 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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