Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Thaba Chweu come from
Every fact on the Thaba Chweu 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 16 Oct 2026: Frieda Nkadimeng is executive mayor.
Mpumalanga Provincial Government. Page is undated.
Where to look: Municipalities table (page 2 of 3), row 'Thaba Chweu Local Municipality', column 'Executive mayor'. The table is undated (footer 'Copyright 2026'); it names mayors elected in late 2024, so it was updated no earlier than Nov 2024. Read 2026-10-16. Party not shown.
As of 26 Oct 2023: The ANC won Ward 6 in Sabie Simile from the AUM in a by-election. The council has 27 seats. The ANC now has 16, up from 15. The DA has 6, the EFF 3 and FF Plus 1. The AUM has 1, down from 2.
Daily Maverick. Published 26 October 2023.
Where to look: Thaba Chweu (Ehlanzeni) Ward 6 (Sabie Simile) section: 'The New Thaba Chweu council composition is ANC 16 (15) DA 6 EFF 3 AUM 1 (2) VF+ 1. Total: 27.'
As of 9 Nov 2021: Mogotle Friddah Nkadimeng was elected in 2021 as an ANC PR councillor in Thaba Chweu, at list position 2.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: MP321 - Thaba Chweu rows, ANC PR(2)
How were the seats split?
The 2021 result
Who won the 27 seats in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Page is undated.
Where to look: pp. 1-2 of 2 (party table on 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: 16 (12 ward, 4 party). Democratic Alliance: 6 (2 ward, 4 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 3 (0 ward, 3 party). African Unified Movement: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Freedom Front Plus: 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 27 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 Thaba Chweu 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)
Government stepped in
In July 2026, the Minister of Cooperative Governance told Parliament that the intervention at Thaba Chweu is ongoing. It began in October 2018, under section 139(5) of the Constitution.
Department of Cooperative Governance. Published 3 July 2026.
Where to look: reply (a), table of municipalities under intervention, 'Thaba Chweu LM' row: type of intervention, date instituted, status Ongoing
Doubt it can pay its bills
The Auditor-General found a going concern uncertainty at Thaba Chweu in 2024-25, for the second year in a row.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: p. 50 (PDF page 54), 'Sixty-two municipalities with going concern uncertainty and consecutive years in this position', Mpumalanga, 'Thaba Chweu LM' row; p. 49 explains the measure
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