Phumelela Local Municipality elections
The Phumelela Local Municipality council consists of sixteen members elected by mixed-member proportional representation. Eight councillors are elected by first-past-the-post voting in eight wards, while the remaining eight 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 3 August 2016 the African National Congress won a majority of twelve seats on the council.
In the 2021 South African municipal elections the ANC won a reduced majority of eleven seats on the council.
Results
The following table shows the composition of the council after past elections.| Event | ANC | DA | EFF | FF+ | Other | Total |
| 2000 election | 11 | 3 | - | - | 0 | 14 |
| 2006 election | 11 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| 2011 election | 12 | 3 | - | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2016 election | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2021 election | 11 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 |