TimesLIVE reports that in line with a national agreement, municipal councillors will receive a pay hike from July.  This was indicated in a statement on Cape Town's budget presentation, but is apparently applicable across the country.  

Mayor Dan Plato said during a budget discussion to the council that “councillors will receive only a 4% cost of living increase this year compared to 6% in other metros.”  He called on all councillors to donate back-pay of their cost of living increase to the Mayor’s Special Fund for food relief initiatives.  The mayor also indicated that the city was saving R450m in staff costs through a range of measures, including a limit placed on filling vacancies; a 50% reduction in annual performance increases for management; reductions in the appointment of consultants and training programmes; and a 50% portion of long service rewards being converted into additional leave.  The city’s Covid-19 budget impact has been budgeted for at R3.8bn, including more than R900m of additional Covid-19 expenditure.  A R3bn social package has also been passed to support the indigent, disabled and pensioners.  Plato explained:  “We know that many have already lost their jobs or fallen on hard times.  That’s why we are expanding indigent relief to persons earning R7,000 per month or less, and increasing the rates discount for many in this category.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard at TimesLIVE

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