Question NW1592 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
09 September 2020 - NW1592
Brink, Mr C to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether she has been informed about the letter that was allegedly written by an official of the National Treasury to the SA Local Government Association (Salga) requesting Salga to apply on behalf of municipalities for exemption from annual salary increases for municipal officials in light of the adverse financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, whether (a) a certain person (name furnished) and/or (b) any other employee of her department was copied in the specified letter and/or substantially similar request to Salga; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; what is her department’s position on the National Treasury’s request that Salga applies on behalf of municipalities for exemption from annual salary increases for municipal officials in light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic; whether any municipalities have applied to the SA Local Government Bargaining Council for such an exemption; if so, what are the relevant details in each case?
Reply:
-
- Yes, the contents of the letter were brought to my attention.
-
- (a) and (b) Yes, the then Acting Director-General of the Department was copied in the letter.
-
- The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) is a registered employer organisation in the bargaining council designated for municipalities in terms of section 30 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, representing municipalities that are affiliated to it in the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC). As regards, the National Treasury’ request for SALGA to apply for exemption of municipal employees from the 2020/21 annual salary increases, the letter conform to the labour laws of the Republic. It is incumbent upon SALGA in its capacity as the employer representative to use its internal protocols to consult with the relevant municipalities or the mandating structures before embarking on the application referred to in National Treasury’ letter.
End.
-
- Clause 11 of the 2018 - 2021 Salary and Wage Collective Agreement concluded on 15 August 2018 read in conjunction with the Constitution of the SALGBC impose an obligation on municipalities applying for exemptions to lodge their applications with the General-Secretary of the Council and to forward copies to the national offices of the Independent Municipal Allied Workers Union (IMATU) and the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU), not the Minister.