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SowetanLive reports that municipal bosses and councillors in more than half of the country’s municipalities where service delivery is at risk of collapse are set to receive salary hikes of up to 3.8%.
But the gazetting of the increases by Thembi Nkadimeng, the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), has irked union federation Cosatu, which has vowed to fight it to the bitter end. According to the gazette, Nkadimeng approved salary increases that would see some mayors at grade 6 municipalities such as metros earning up to R1,501,351 per annum and speakers and deputy mayors earning up to R1,212,520. The mayors at the smallest (Grade 1) municipalities are set to receive up to R836,690, while deputy mayors and speakers will earn R675,723. Municipalities must obtain the concurrence of the provincial MEC for local government prior to implementation of the salary increases. Cosatu spokesperson Matthew Parks said they were going to take their opposition on the salary increases to parliament. He said the proposed increases reflected a leadership in the department “that is out of touch with the dire economic constraints facing the country and the chaos that local government has fallen into under their watch.” He added: “It is beyond the comprehension of any sober person that Cogta could offer increases to mayors, councillors and municipal managers who have presided over the deterioration of local government.” Parks said the labour federation supported the call of its affiliate, the SA Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu), for the funds to be used instead to employ staff, invest in IT capacity and increase revenue collection, thus helping to stabilise and rebuild municipalities.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Mpho Sibanyoni at SowetanLive
- Read too, Municipal officials are set for salary hikes, and Cosatu is livid, at BusinessLive (subscriber access only)
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page