This as they are expected to receive an annual salary of R3.9 million while those who report directly to them will receive R3 million annually, as gazetted yesterday (on November 8). The union demands that the money should rather be redirected towards the remuneration of municipal workers and provision of service delivery. The union’s disapproval of the increments comes just days after the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Zweli Mkhize, during his address at the Free State Local Government summit held in Bloemfontein, confirmed that the majority of municipalities in the country are in financial despair, do not generate revenue, and battle to carry out their functions.

Municipalities in the country currently owe more than R23 billion to service providers, which mainly include Eskom and water boards. Those in the Free State alone have to cough up more than R7.8 billion in electricity bills to Eskom, making it the province with the highest amount owed by municipalities throughout the country.

The union further says it is shameful that these increases were gazetted on the same week that the EPWP workers’ salaries were increased by a mere R4.31 per day.

Following Mkhize’s acknowledgement of the latest Auditor-General’s report that lists 113 municipalities in need of urgent intervention, questions are now mounting as to whether his department will be able to help bring stability to these municipalities amidst the city managers’ inflated salaries.

Social media users have taken to Twitter to demand reasons behind these increments and pose questions as to why Cogta and Treasury maintain municipalities should be focusing on service delivery and attracting investment, yet make room for these increments.

OFM News