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The Citizen notes that it was reported last week that the City of Johannesburg plans to vote a 6.4% pay increase for its councillors, much to the outrage of residents. But, Steve Tshwete Municipality in Mpumalanga has gone one better.
The six senior managers of the municipality have voted themselves an average 16.8% increase. But, the real whopper is the municipal manager, whose salary has been bumped up by 48%. The rest of the staff will receive a 6.25% increase. Residents of the municipality will be lumped with an average increase of 9.5% on property rates, and increases of 8.1% for sewerage, 6.7% for refuse collection, 6% for water and 6.3% for electricity. Municipalities are sheltering behind a three-year agreement concluded in 2018 with the SA Local Government Association that allow for staff pay increases of CPI plus 1.25% this year, and a home owners’ allowance increase of 7%. But this agreement was concluded well before the lockdown, leaving cash-stumped residents to cover the municipality’s spending wishes. “It is unconscionable for Steve Tshwete Municipality to vote itself a 6.25% increase in staff pay when the rest of the country is going through incredible difficulties,” commented Tim Tyrrell of Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa).
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ciaran Ryan at The Citizen
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