The Mhlontlo Local Municipality council consists of fifty-one members elected by mixed-member proportional representation.
Twenty-six councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in twenty-six wards, while the remaining twenty-five 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 forty seats.
[6] After the death of the African National Congress (ANC) councillor in ward 20, a by-election was held on 30 November 2022.
Besides the ANC, the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), African Transformation Movement (ATM) and the Independent South African National Civic Organisation (Isanco) contested.