DA considering legal action to stop City of Johannesburg salary hikes
The DA says the proposed salary increases for City of Johannesburg senior managers will further dilute funds available for services.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it is considering all legal options to stop the planned salary increases in the City of Johannesburg as outlined in Notice 4897 of 30 May 2024, which served before the council on 31 July.
WHY DOES THE DA WANT TO STOP SALARY HIKES IN THE CITY OF JOHANNESBURG?
As per the notice, the DA said senior municipal managers in the City of Johannesburg will receive salary increases backdated to July 2023. This initial payment alone will cost the ratepayer a staggering R1.5 million.
The DA said it refuses to be party to the morally indefensible action of implementing these increases while the City of Johannesburg is on the brink of bankruptcy.
DA Johannesburg caucus chief whip Nicole Rahn said there is no way they can approve of senior managers, including the municipal manager, getting increases, further diluting the money the embattled metro municipality has available to service residents.
Rahn said the council recently approved a R2.5 billion loan for the municipality. She emphasised that this was done on the premise that capital projects would be able to continue – improving service delivery, not for salary increases.
“These increases are an indictment against the City. While taps run dry, electricity stays off, and roads vanish into dust, the priority surely cannot be increasing an already bloated wage bill.
“The worst of all is that the people who will now benefit from these increases are the same people who cannot meet their Key Performance Indicators. They are responsible for the reprehensible state of affairs Joburg finds itself in; now, they will be paid more to continue their ineffectiveness.”
MUNICIPALITY UNDER FIRE FOR INCREASED VIP PROTECTION
In April, the Daily Maverick reported that the City of Johannesburg is splurging on VIP protection despite financial woes and declining revenue.
The publication reported that the reason for the new VIP allocations was the shooting of council Chief Whip Sithembiso Zungu.
Zungu was shot in January at a back-to-school campaign in Zakariyya Park, south of Johannesburg. Unfortunately, Rand Water executive Teboho Joala and his bodyguard were killed in the shooting.
Although the City of Johannesburg has always provided its executives with bodyguards, it has expanded the number of those getting VIP protection. This will now include committee chairpersons.
According to reports, embattled executive mayor Kabelo Gwamanda would have ten bodyguards from the JMPD and eight cars from its fleet, including luxury vehicles from brands such as BMW, VW, Lexus, and Toyota.
At the same time, the City will provide the Speaker, Margaret Arnolds, with five cars and eight bodyguards assigned to her.