Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about Thembelihle come from
Every fact on the Thembelihle 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: Marnus Visser is Mayor/Executive Mayor (a mayor who makes many of the council's decisions), according to National Treasury's municipal officials data. This is an undated contact record.
National Treasury. Page is undated.
Where to look: Record with role 'Mayor/Executive Mayor'; the record carries no date (accessed 16 Oct 2026)
As of 31 Aug 2025: M Visser was mayor in the year to 30 June 2025, according to the municipality's audited financial statements (the accounts, checked by auditors).
National Treasury. Published 31 August 2025.
Where to look: p. 1, General Information, Mayoral committee: 'Mayor M Visser'; approved by the accounting officer 31 Aug 2025 (p. 3)
As of 12 Apr 2024: Marnus 'Stan' Visser is a councillor for the Siyathemba Community Movement. Visser replaced EFF mayor Leonard Makenna. This came after a motion of no confidence. ANC councillors and one independent councillor backed the motion.
Diamond Fields Advertiser. Published 12 April 2024.
Where to look: Opening paragraphs (removal of Makenna, Visser named as replacement, motion supported by ANC councillors and one independent)
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. 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 (4 ward, 1 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 3 (1 ward, 2 party). Democratic Alliance: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Siyathemba Community Movement: 1 (0 ward, 1 party). Freedom Front Plus: 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 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 Thembelihle a qualified audit opinion 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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