Mhlontlo

Quick Fact

Mhlontlo municipality had population of 188 226 persons in 2011

Quick Fact Image -0,75% Growth rate

The municipality comprises the magisterial areas of Qumbu and Tsolo. It is bounded to the south by the King Sabata Dalinyebo Local Municipality; to the east by the Nyandeni Local Municipality; and to the north by the Mzimvubu Local Municipality. The surface area of the municipality is 2 826km2,with a population of 188 226 persons in 2011, which translates to a population density of 66,6 persons per square kilometre.

Rank By:
52 ranking by population size
  Rank view all
Umzimvubu , Eastern Cape 191,620 49
Lukhanji , Eastern Cape 190,723 50
Ulundi , KwaZulu-Natal 188,317 51
Mhlontlo , Eastern Cape 188,226 52
Moretele , North West 186,947 53
Jozini , KwaZulu-Natal 186,502 54
Albert Luthuli , Mpumalanga 186,010 55
Quick Fact

14,7% has no formal schooling.

Quick Fact Image

In the census of 2001, the population of the municipality stood at 202 933, which constituted 15,7% of the population of the district. In 2011 however, the population declined to 188 226, which constitutes 13,8% of the population of the O.R. Tambo District. The decline is mainly due to migration to other areas to seek educational and job opportunities. The male population constitutes 46% at 87 440,while the female population constitutes 54% at 100 786.

Group Percentage
Black African99,4%
Coloured0,2%
Indian/Asian0,1%
White0,2%
Other0,1%
Age Males Females
0-4 6,7% 6,5%
5-9 6,4% 6,1%
10-14 6,5% 6%
15-19 7% 6,5%
20-24 4,5% 4,4%
25-29 2,7% 3,1%
30-34 1,9% 2,5%
35-39 1,7% 2,5%
40-44 1,4% 2,4%
45-49 1,4% 1,4%
50-54 1,4% 2,4%
55-59 1,3% 2,1%
60-64 1,1% 1,8%
65-69 0,8% 1,3%
70-74 0,7% 1,2%
75-79 0,4% 1,1%
80-84 0,3% 0,7%
85+ 0,2% 0,5%
Language Percentage
Afrikaans 0,6%
English 2,3%
IsiNdebele 0,2%
IsiXhosa 94,3%
IsiZulu 0,4%
Sepedi 0,2%
Sesotho 0,2%
Setswana 0,2%
Sign Language 0,7%
SiSwati 0%
Tshivenda 0,1%
Xitsonga 0%
Other 0.2%
Not Applicable 0,6%
Group Percentage
Married 19,7%
Living together like married partners 1,6%
Never married 71,1%
Widower/Widow 6,6%
Separated 0,7%
Divorced 0,4%
Group Percentage
No Schooling 2,5%
Some Primary 51,2%
Completed Primary 7,3%
Some Secondary 32,9%
Completed Secondary 5,1%
Higher Education 0,4%
Not Applicable 0,7%
Sex Percentage
Female 53,5%
Male 46,5%
Quick Fact

In the 2001 census, 29,4% of the population used electricity for lighting. The figure rose to 72,6% in 2011.

Quick Fact Image

The percentage of persons with no access to piped water in 2001 was 67,8%. This number declined in 2011 to 38,5%.According to Census 2011 figures, the population uses mainly pit latrines (65,1%) whereas only 4,2% have access to flush toilets which are connected to a sewerage system. A sizeable portion (27%) of the population does not have any toilets and this is cause for concern, as this has a negative impact on the quality of health.

Area Percentage
Urban 5,7%
Tribal/Traditional 93,5%
Farm 0,9%
Item Yes No
Cellphone 81,9% 18,1%
Computer 2,9% 97,1%
Television 48,7% 51,3%
Satellite Television 7,3% 92,7%
Radio 49,4% 50,6%
Landline / Telephone 2,1% 97,9%
Motor Car 10,4% 89,6%
Refrigerator 35,7% 64,3%
Electric / Gas-Stove 59% 41%
Energy Source Cooking Heating Lighting
Electricity 44,8% 15% 72,6%
Gas 5% 1,4% 0,3%
Paraffin 12,7% 21,2% 3,4%
Solar 0,1% 0,1% 0,2%
Candles 0% 0% 23,1%
Wood 33,3% 54,9% 0%
Coal 0,1% 0,5% 0%
Animal Dung 3,3% 1,4% 0%
Other 0,2% 0% 0%
None 0,3% 5,3% 0,4%
Access Percentage
From Home 1,1%
From Cellphone 13%
From Work 0,9%
From Elsewhere 2%
No Access 83,2%
Tenure Status Percentage
Rented 6,5%
Owned and fully paid off 46,7%
Owned but not yet paid off 7,2%
Occupied rent free 30,2%
Other 9,4%
Source of water Percentage
Regional/Local water scheme (operated by municipality or other water services provider) 29,2%
Borehole 5%
Spring 8,7%
Rain water tank 8,4%
Dam/Pool/Stagnant water 3,3%
River/Stream 37,5%
Water vendor 1,1%
Water tanker 4,4%
Other 2,5%
Toilet Facility Percentage
None 22%
Flush toilet (connected to sewerage system) 2,9%
Flush toilet (with septic tank) 1,3%
Chemical toilet 4,8%
Pit toilet with ventilation 25,5%
Pit toilet without ventilation 39,6%
Bucket toilet 0,6%
Other 3,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 4,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1%
Communal refuse dump 2%
Own refuse dump 61,6%
No rubbish disposal 27,4%
Other 3,3%
Refuse Disposal Percentage
Removed by local authority/private company at least once a week 4,8%
Removed by local authority/private company less often 1%
Communal refuse dump 2%
Own refuse dump 61,6%
No rubbish disposal 27,4%
Other 3,3%
Quick Fact

The rate of unemployment in 2001 was 64,8% the rate has dropped to 48,9% in 2011

Quick Fact Image

The rate of unemployment in 2001 was 64,8%. According to Census 2011 figures, the rate has dropped to 48,9%, which is still much higher than the national level of 25,2%.4,2% of the population resided in informal dwellings in 2001. The figure for 2011 was 2,3%. The percentage residing in traditional dwellings in 2001 was 73,7% and went down to 62,9% in 2011.

Employment Status Number
Employed 14724
Unemployed 14078
Discouraged Work Seeker 9722
Not Economically Active 64027
Income Percentage
None income 15,3%
R1 - R4,800 6,9%
R4,801 - R9,600 13,4%
R9,601 - R19,600 26,9%
R19,601 - R38,200 22,7%
R38,201 - R76,4000 7,2%
R76,401 - R153,800 3,9%
R153,801 - R307,600 2,4%
R307,601 - R614,400 0,9%
R614,001 - R1,228,800 0,2%
R1,228,801 - R2,457,600 0,1%
R2,457,601+ 0,1%
Agricultural households
Type of specific activity Number
Livestock production 15,692
Poultry production 17,275
Vegetable production 9,389
Production of other crops 4,578
Other 1,788

**An agricultural household may engage in more than one agricultural activity

Agricultural households
Type of activity Number
Crops only 2,097
Animals only 13,744
Mixed farming 9,483
Other 267

**An agricultural household may not fall under more than one agricultural activity

Income category of agricultural households
Annual income category of agricultural household heads Number
No income 8,330
R1-R4 800 1,196
R4 801-R38 400 14,213
R38 401-R307 200 1,356
R307 201+ 98
Unspecified 397

Place names

Places in Mhlontlo Municipality

Key Statistics 2011

Total population188,226
Young (0-14)38,3%
Working Age (15-64)54,5%
Elderly (65+)7,2%
Dependency ratio83,5
Sex ratio86,8
Growth rate-0,75% (2001-2011)
Population density67 persons/km2
Unemployment rate48,9%
Youth unemployment rate59,5%
No schooling aged 20+14,7%
Higher education aged 20+4,9%
Matric aged 20+12,3%
Number of households43,414
Number of Agricultural households25,591
Average household size4,2
Female headed households56,9%
Formal dwellings34,1%
Housing owned/paying off53,9%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage2,9%
Weekly refuse removal4,8%
Piped water inside dwelling4%
Electricity for lighting72,6%

Key Statistics 2001

Total population202,933
Young (0-14)44%
Working Age (15-64)54,5%
Elderly (65+)6,7%
Dependency ratio102,9%
Sex ratio83,7
Growth rate0,24% (2001-2011)
Unemployment rate64,8%
Youth unemployment rate75,8%
No schooling aged 20+35,9%
Higher education aged 20+4,1%
Matric aged 20+7,7%
Number of households43,573
Average household size4,6
Female headed households61%
Formal dwellings21,9%
Housing owned/paying off55,8%
Flush toilet connected to sewerage2,2%
Weekly refuse removal3,6%
Piped water inside dwelling0,8%
Electricity for lighting29,1%