The uMshwathi Local Municipality council consists of twent-seven members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Fourteen councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in fourteen wards, while the remaining thirteen are chosen from party lists so that the total number of party representatives is proportional to the number of votes received. In the election of 1 November 2021 the African National Congress (ANC) won a majority of sixteen seats.
The following table shows the composition of the council after past elections.
| Event | ANC | DA | EFF | IFP | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 election | 11 | 1 | - | 7 | 3 | 22 |
| 2006 election | 14 | 2 | - | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| 2011 election | 19 | 2 | - | 3 | 2 | 26 |
| 2016 election | 20 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 27 |
| 2021 election | 16 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 27 |
See main article: 2000 South African municipal elections.
The following table shows the results of the 2000 election.[1]
See main article: 2006 South African municipal elections.
The following table shows the results of the 2006 election.[2]
See main article: 2011 South African municipal elections.
The following table shows the results of the 2011 election.[3]
See main article: 2016 South African municipal elections.
The following table shows the results of the 2016 election.[4]
See main article: 2021 South African municipal elections.
The following table shows the results of the 2021 election.[5]
The following by-elections were held to fill vacant ward seats in the period since the election in November 2021.[6]
| Date | Ward | Party of the previous councillor | Party of the newly elected councillor | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 March 2023 | 12 | ||||
| 13 March 2024[7] | 6 | ||||
In a ward 12 by-election, held on 8 March 2023 after the death of the ANC councillor, the ANC narrowly retained the ward after a large swing to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).[8]