TMG Digital reports that councillors who fell out of favour in the municipal elections and those retiring will leave their jobs with payouts worth a total of R309m.  

Die Burger reported on Thursday that outgoing councillors with five or more years’ service would receive three months’ salary.  Pro-rata payments would be made to those who served shorter stints in their positions.  A spokesperson for the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister confirmed the payments would amount to R309m — far higher than earlier estimates of R100m.  The SA Local Government Association (Salga) said the payments would be made to ensure that the councillors who found themselves out of a job had a safety net to tide them over until their pensions were paid out.  Similar payments were available to councillors after the elections in 2011.

• This short report is at BDLive

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