The Makana Municipality Council has decided on an average 5% increase in the upper limits for salaries, allowances and benefits of the different members of Municipal Councils for the 2013/2014 year.
The Makana Municipality Council has decided on an average 5% increase in the upper limits for salaries, allowances and benefits of the different members of Municipal Councils for the 2013/2014 year.
The increases will be backdated to 1 July 2013.
The Executive Mayor will receive a total of R702 295, including a salary of R508 370 and allowances for transport (R169 457), cellphone use (R20 868), and a datacard (R3 600).
The Speaker will receive a package of R566 729, while the Chief Whip, who has a part-time role, receives R227 816.
The five members of the Executive Committee each receive R532 838, while the remaining part-time councillors each get R227 816.
Upper limits for councillor packages are set by the South African Local Government Association (Salga) and this year represent a 5% increase on the previous year, which is within the inflation targets set by the South African Reserve Bank.
The amounts suggested by Salga fall within what the Makana Council had originally budgeted for, except for the budgeted salary of the Mayor, which was cut by R22 259.
The figures were released on 6 February. Before they are officially implemented, Council must consult the Eastern Cape MEC for local government Mlibo Qhoboshiane.
They will explain that the budget is affordable and demonstrate that liability has been budgeted for.
One of the 20 councillors was recently fired, which means that their salary is not part of the total figure.
Thus the proposed total councillor wage bill is slightly less than what was budgeted.
The overall wage bill for the Council for 2013/2014 is R8 032 245.
The total amount given to each Councillor includes their salary, travel allowance, housing allowance, money for pension and a municipal contribution to a medical aid scheme. Over and above their salaries, all Councillors receive life and disability cover, paid for by the Municipality.
Salga informs each municipality of how much money they will receive for councillors packages and send suggestions as to how the money should be divided amongst the Councillors.
The municipalities then compare it with what they had budgeted for, and an accord is reached. These figures are then sent for approval to the MEC for local government in the province.
Click the link below to see a full breakdown of the current, budgeted and proposed councillor allowances for 2013/2014.
