TimesLive reports that former councillors who did not make the cut in the 3 August local government polls will not be leaving their jobs empty-handed.  

The SA Local Government Association (Salga) has confirmed a "golden handshake" for councillors who got the chop and those retiring across the country.  The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs has set aside R100 million for the payouts.  Salga Western Cape’s Khalil Mullagie said these would be calculated on a formula which included the number of terms or years councillors had served, and their last basic salary.  After the 2011 elections, councillors who were not re-elected to office received three months' salary in compensation.  An ordinary councillor in the Cape Town city council earns an annual salary including benefits of more than R800,000.

• Read this report by Lindsay Dentlinger in full at Cape Argus

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page