Non-Financial Census of Municipalities, 2013

The number of consumer units receiving basic services from municipalities and service providers (water, electricity, sewerage and sanitation, and solid waste management) has increased from 2012 to 2013. The largest increase from 2012 to 2013 in the provision of services was in sewerage and sanitation (6,2%) followed by solid waste management (5,1%), electricity (2,3%) water and (3,3%).

The non-financial census of municipalities is conducted annually by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) since 2002. The purpose of the census is to measure selected aspects of service delivery of municipalities. The results of this census provide information that serve as a framework for policymakers and other stakeholders for planning and monitoring.

Over the period 2012 to 2013, Eastern Cape, North West and KwaZulu-Natal reported increases in the use of the bucket toilet system. Decreases in the use of the bucket toilet system were reported in Gauteng, Western Cape, Northern Cape and Free State. Limpopo reported no use of the bucket toilet system in 2012 or 2013. Out of 10,0 million consumer units receiving electricity, 2,5 million consumer units were receiving free basic electricity.

According to 2013 estimates, 11,8 million consumer units were receiving water from municipalities in South Africa, of which 5,3 million (44,7%) consumer units were receiving free basic water. Western Cape showed the highest proportion of consumer units that benefited from the free basic water policy (77,3%), followed by Mpumalanga (56,3%) and Eastern Cape (44,7%). The province with the lowest proportion of consumer units that benefited from the free basic water policy was Northern Cape (31,9%), followed by Free state (37,1%) and Gauteng (37,7%). Out of 10,0 million consumer units receiving sewerage and sanitation, 3,1 million received sewerage and sanitation as a free basic service from municipalities and service providers.

About 2,5 million consumer units received free basic solid waste management services from a total of 8,4 million consumer units. Differences in free basic services between 2012 and 2013 are partly the result of changes in the targeting mechanisms used by municipalities to provide such services, namely technical, geographical, broad-based, self-based, consumption-based, property value, and plot size.

Technical Enquiries:

Dr Patrick Naidoo

Executive Manager: Government Financial Statistics

Tel: (012) 310 8307

Media Enquiries:

Mr. Trevor Oosterwyk

Executive Manager: Corporate Communications

Tel: (012) 310 8130

Cell: 082 908 9104

Email: TrevorO@statssa.gov.za