Question NW1558 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
22 July 2021 - NW1558
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Whether, she will advise if it is allowed that the mayor of the Namaqua District Municipality in the Northern Cape, (name furnished) is not only the mayor of the specified municipality, but also a councillor in the Kamiesberg Local Municipality; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, according to which legislation; (2) Whether a person can qualify for two government salaries at the same time; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. Yes, a councillor from a local municipality may be apppinted in terms of Section 23(1)(b) of the Local Government: Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 (“the Act”) to directly represent the local municipality in the district municipality in which it is a part of.
2. The remuneration of councillors is dealt with in terms of the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act 20 of 1998, which requires the Minister to annually determine the upper limits of councillor remuneration by Notice in the Government Gazette.
In terms of the upper limits published in Government Gazette No. 43246 on 24 April 2020, a councillor elected or appointed to a district council in terms of section 23(1)(b) of the Act, may be paid the upper limit of the total remuneration package or allowance as follows:
(a) If a councillor is elected or appointed as mayor such councillor is entitled to an amount equal to the difference between the total remuneration package that a councillor receives as a member of the local council and the total remuneration package allocated to that office in the district council.
(b) If the total remuneration package payable to a councillor as a member of the local council is equal to or higher than the total remuneration package that an appointed councillor to the district council receives, such a councillor is, in addition to the total remuneration package received at the local council, entitled to a sitting allowance.