Johannesburg — The Joburg City Council has approved a salary increase for its councillors, despite facing several key issues including water shortages, looming power cuts and a spaza shop crisis.
During a council meeting held this past week, 249 councillors debated the matter, with 146 voting in favour of a salary hike, 33 members voted against, and 70 abstained. During the meeting, those who opposed the increase were concerned about the negative perception it would create, considering the current condition of the city, IOL reported.
Most notably, Joburg mayor, Dada Morero, is set to receive an increase of R83 701 per year. Morero’s salary will jump from R1 501 351 to R1 585 052. Other notable increases include the Speaker (R1 212 520 to R1 280 117), council members (R1 142 175 to R1 205 850) Oversight Committee chairs (R1 108 670 to R1 170 478) while part-time members also received a health boost (R562 265 to R592 610).
The parties to reject the increase report included the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP).
ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance (PA), COPE, GOOD, the United Democratic Movement (UDM), the African Transformation Movement (ATM), the African Independent Congress (AIC), the Pan African Congress (PAC), and Al Jama-ah, were all in favour of the increase.
Joburg councillors give themselves a salary increase during chaotic online meeting.
“ActionSA and the EFF were the only parties in 2023 to vote against an increase in budget. But regarding this year’s vote, ActionSA was for the increase.”
“Ultimately the item was passed…
— Bianca van Wyk (@BiancavanWyk16) November 22, 2024
According to TimesLIVE, the council meeting deliberated over the determination of the upper limits of salaries allowances and benefits for the 2024/2025 year.
The report brought for council approval said the objective was to request the council to approve the recommendations to implement the upper limit of salaries and benefits for members of the City of Joburg.
“The salary and allowances of a member of a municipal council are determined by that municipal council by resolution of a supporting vote of a majority of its members, in consultation with the member of the executive council responsible for local government in each province, having regard to upper limits as set out in the notice, the financial year of the municipal council and affordability of the municipal councils to pay within the different levels of remuneration to councillors,” reads the report.
Picture: Pixabay
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
