Tshwane under fire for councillor salary hike

The Lotus Gardens, Atteridgeville, and Saulsville Civic Association (Lasca) has slammed the City of Tshwane's council for approving a 5% salary increase for councillors, while city workers have been waiting for their own salary adjustments. 

Tshepo Mahlangu, the organisation's leader, has been outspoken in his criticism, emphasising the perceived double standard in the treatment of councillors versus city employees.

He argues that approving councillor salary increments while relying heavily on consultants instead of investing in the workforce undermines both residents and city employees.

“Why should councillors be rewarded while employees are still fighting for their long overdue salary increases?” Mahlangu asked.

He questioned the justification for councillor salary increments, noting that thousands of unemployed residents have protested the unemployment crisis and that outsourced security guards have long awaited insourcing.

“We are under the impression that the City of Tshwane Municipality is financially constrained but this is really disturbing, worrisome and unacceptable,” he said.

Mahlangu accused the city of prioritising councillor salary increments over addressing key issues, such as scrapping prescribed debts for residents, while looting an already financially strained entity.

“We can't wait to go to the ballot and remove these greedy political parties who only think of themselves in council. COT is on auto pilot,” he said.

Lasca’s reaction follows a council vote in which Tshwane councillors approved a 5% salary increase for themselves, along with additional benefits. 

Notably, Lex Middelberg, a councillor from the Republican Conference of Tshwane, was the sole vote against the increase, arguing that the municipality cannot afford it.

The salary increases are reportedly aligned with recent gazetted determinations by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, which set maximum salary limits for public representatives.

Tshwane councillors have gone without a salary increase since 2020 due to the municipality's financial struggles. 

Middelberg argued that the current financial situation doesn't warrant a raise, given the municipality's ongoing challenges and residents' difficulties in paying their bills.

He expressed his concerns, stating that approving salary increases for councillors at a time when residents are struggling to pay their bills is "not tasteful." 

The increases, which take effect from July 1, 2024, will also result in councillors receiving a lump sum in back pay.

Regional secretary of South African Municipal Workers Union in Tshwane, Donald Monakisi was not readily available for comment but he had previously challenged the city to honour outstanding 3,5% and 5,4% wage increases for 2021/2022 and 2023/2024 financial years, respectively.

This was the May 9 Labour Court ruling, ruled that the City is exempted from implementing a 5,4% wage increase for the 2023/2024 financial year while sending back the matter regarding the 3,5% wage increase to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council for a new hearing.

The union is appealing a separate ruling on a 5,4% increase, at the Labour Court.

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za