Question NW2601 to the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

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05 December 2016 - NW2601

Profile picture: Mileham, Mr K

Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs

Whether any payments have been made to any former councillor in terms of the once-off gratuity that was promised to former councillors before the 2016 local government elections; if not, (a) why not and (b) by what date will the specified gratuities be paid to the former councillors; if so, (i) what is the total amount that was paid out in gratuities to the former councillors, (ii) how many of the former councillors still need to receive their gratuities and (iii) what is the total amount of gratuities that are still outstanding?

Reply:

The Department of Cooperative Governance was advised that payments of the once-off gratuity to eligible non-returning councillors after the 3 August 2016 local government elections could only be made after the Independent Commission for the Remuneration (“the Commission”) of Public Office Bearers published their recommendations in this regard.

On Friday, 11 November 2016:

  • The Commission published their recommendations in this regard in Government Gazette No. 40422; and
  • The Local Government MinMEC resolved that the Minister finalise the payment model for the once-off gratuity after having considered the recommendations of the Commission and the resolutions taken at the MinMEC meeting that was held on 2 September 2016.

The payment model was finalised on Tuesday, 16 November 2016.

Yes, payments of the once-off gratuity has commenced.

(i) In the process of payment, the Department is busy with the necessary preparations, calculations and verification of the payments to eligible non-returning councillors.

   An amount of R309 million was appropriated for this purpose. The total amount that will be paid out will be determined after the payment have been finalised.

(ii) As at 28 November 2016, more than 4000 former councillors, still need to receive their gratuities.

(iii) The total amount of gratuities for the more than 4000 former councillors are still outstanding. This amount is still to be determined based on the payment model (including the formula) that was approved on the 16 November 2016.

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