Checked 16 October 2026
Where the facts about uMshwathi come from
Every fact on the uMshwathi 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 18 Sep 2026: Councillor Nomusa Khanyile, the Ward 13 councillor 'deployed by the African National Congress (ANC)', was appointed deputy mayor of uMshwathi.
uMshwathi Municipality. Published 18 September 2026.
Where to look: article body, paragraphs 2-3; date from URL
As of 8 Sep 2026: Mayor Mandla Zondi leads the uMshwathi council, a municipal post of 8 September 2026 says.
uMshwathi Municipality. Published 8 September 2026.
Where to look: title (isiZulu: 'the uMshwathi council under the leadership of Mayor Mandla Zondi'); date from URL
As of 31 Mar 2026: Cllr Mandla Zondi is mayor of uMshwathi. An EFF PR councillor (a seat from the party's list, to match its share of the votes) was sworn in on 30 March 2026.
uMshwathi Municipality. Published 31 March 2026.
Where to look: body ('Hon. Mayor of uMshwathi Cllr Mandla Zondi'; swearing-in 'took place on 30 March 2026')
As of 1 Dec 2025: A municipal statement of 1 December 2025 is issued by 'The Mayor of uMshwathi Municipality, Cllr Mandla Zondi'.
uMshwathi Municipality. Published 1 December 2025.
Where to look: title / opening line
As of 9 Nov 2021: Godfried Mandla Zondi was elected as an ANC PR councillor in uMshwathi in 2021.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 9 November 2021.
Where to look: KZN221 - uMshwathi: ANC PR(1) ZONDI GODFRIED MANDLA
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: 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 (14 ward, 2 party). Inkatha Freedom Party: 4 (0 ward, 4 party). Economic Freedom Fighters: 3 (0 ward, 3 party). Democratic Alliance: 2 (0 ward, 2 party). Abantu Batho Congress: 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 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 uMshwathi an unqualified audit opinion with findings for 2024-25. That is worse than in 2023-24, when it got a clean audit.
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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