The top brass of the Democratic Alliance in Makana will investigate an election volunteer's allegations that the party exploited her.
The top brass of the Democratic Alliance in Makana will investigate an election volunteer's allegations that the party exploited her.
Cleo Sandi, 24, told Grocott's Mail the DA hadn't paid her after she worked a 19-hour shift as the party's agent at the Extension 9 voting station during last month's general elections.
Sandi claimed she had worked around the clock officiating and counting votes for the party but hadn't been compensated. She claimed five colleagues had received their payments and alleged unfair treatment by Ward 3 councillor Marcelle Booysen.
"Marcelle relieved everyone at 9pm," she said. "But she asked me to stay behind and assist her with counting votes until 2am. She did pay everyone I was working with except me."
Booysen refused to comment on the matter.
"I only did as I was instructed," she said on Friday. She referred Grocott's Mail to local party chairperson, Xolani Madyo.
Madyo said he would meet with party leader Les Reynolds, head of finance Brian Fargher, councillor Marcelle Booysen and Sandi to try and resolve the issue.
"Most party agents who work for the DA are supporters doing the work on a voluntary basis," Madyo said. "They do it for the love of their party without expecting compensation; however, we do make sure they receive three good meals on that day".
Madyo confirmed that the party has a budget for volunteers' wages and that this year's elections were no exception.
"Lump sums were allocated to all councillors – excluding Les and I because we were Party Liaison Officers based at the IEC offices – to pay their teams of party agents R160 each," Madyo said.
The R160 was made up of R40 for airtime and R120 for three meals. The R40 airtime is for the agents to call councillors every 30 minutes with updates about the proceedings at the polling stations.
Madyo said sometimes agents negotiate conditions of payment with councillors.
"Some agents choose to forfeit the meals and request the whole payment. We were not there when Cleo made arrangements with Marcelle."
Madyo said there were councillors who had come back with change because some party agents didn't seek payment as they chose to volunteer for their party. Sandi further alleged she should receive a further R500 on top of the money due to her for counting votes. Madyo said there was no such money paid to agents by DA.
