Under-fire Makana municipal administrator Pam Yako has decided to keep going despite widespread criticism of her R27000 a day salary.
Last week, Yako drew mixed reaction when she wrote to residents and newspapers explaining she was reconsidering her future in Grahamstown and would decide soon.
The open letter came hot on the heels of parliamentary revelations over what she was being paid to rescue the cash-strapped municipality.
Yako – who schooled in Grahamstown and studied at Rhodes University – told the Daily Dispatch she had consulted her government employers and family before deciding to finish her six-month contract.
“I have decided to stay it out and finish what I started.
“I understand that the task was not easy from the beginning and it would be an act of cowardice for me to falter now.”
Although her monthly R327882 salary for the first three months and R286666 for the next three was widely slated – along with her three-day working week – Yako said it was a cost-to-company contract and she was paying all expenses.
The former Water Affairs director-general said the contract was based on gazetted Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) rates and was not excessive compared with her previous level 16 posting and experience.
She paid for weekly economy class flights to Grahamstown from her Tshwane home, stayed in R750 a night B&Bs and used a hire car from her salary.
Although her short working week was slated, Yako said besides working into the night over dinner meetings she often spent an extra day in the city.
She admitted sorting out financial and infrastructure problems was not easy, but said as a former resident she was “duty bound to soldier on”.
“I owe it to the citizens of Makana.”
Contracted through her Zenane Leadership consultancy, Yako – who is managing director – said the business consisted of eight full-time employees and three local government consultants on a monthly retainer. “These people provide me with the support for my Makana assignment, one of the associates is almost full-time at Makana and is there when I am not to collect data, meet stakeholders, compile reports for me and feed me information on a daily basis.”
The biggest challenges in Makana were the inability to meet its financial obligations which impacted water delivery challenges, ageing infrastructure and the poor state of roads.
Although Makana Unity League member Professor Owen Skae – who is also on the Makana Civil Society Coalition steering committee – declined to comment on the remuneration, he said it was hoped she would finish her contract.
“There is no doubt that she has an enormous task on her hands and we are of the opinion that talk of remuneration should not get on the way of permitting her to do what she has been mandated to do.
“She has been appointed and contracted and that is that. Now let her get on and do her job.”
Community activist advocate Jock McConnachie disagreed saying being paid huge amounts for three day’s work a week was “unconscionable”.
“There was also never any previous indication that she was appointed in anything other than her personal capacity.
“It is obvious that Ms Yako has secured a luxury compartment on Makana’s gravy train to nowhere as even our local station is in ruins.
“She must do the honourable thing and disembark.”
DA MP Andrew Whitfield said transparency and accountability were non-negotiable if South Africa wanted to realise its full potential. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Yako vows to stay put at Makana
Last week, Yako drew mixed reaction when she wrote to residents and newspapers explaining she was reconsidering her future in Grahamstown and would decide soon.
The open letter came hot on the heels of parliamentary revelations over what she was being paid to rescue the cash-strapped municipality.
Yako – who schooled in Grahamstown and studied at Rhodes University – told the Daily Dispatch she had consulted her government employers and family before deciding to finish her six-month contract.
“I have decided to stay it out and finish what I started.
“I understand that the task was not easy from the beginning and it would be an act of cowardice for me to falter now.”
Although her monthly R327882 salary for the first three months and R286666 for the next three was widely slated – along with her three-day working week – Yako said it was a cost-to-company contract and she was paying all expenses.
The former Water Affairs director-general said the contract was based on gazetted Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) rates and was not excessive compared with her previous level 16 posting and experience.
She paid for weekly economy class flights to Grahamstown from her Tshwane home, stayed in R750 a night B&Bs and used a hire car from her salary.
Although her short working week was slated, Yako said besides working into the night over dinner meetings she often spent an extra day in the city.
She admitted sorting out financial and infrastructure problems was not easy, but said as a former resident she was “duty bound to soldier on”.
“I owe it to the citizens of Makana.”
Contracted through her Zenane Leadership consultancy, Yako – who is managing director – said the business consisted of eight full-time employees and three local government consultants on a monthly retainer. “These people provide me with the support for my Makana assignment, one of the associates is almost full-time at Makana and is there when I am not to collect data, meet stakeholders, compile reports for me and feed me information on a daily basis.”
The biggest challenges in Makana were the inability to meet its financial obligations which impacted water delivery challenges, ageing infrastructure and the poor state of roads.
Although Makana Unity League member Professor Owen Skae – who is also on the Makana Civil Society Coalition steering committee – declined to comment on the remuneration, he said it was hoped she would finish her contract.
“There is no doubt that she has an enormous task on her hands and we are of the opinion that talk of remuneration should not get on the way of permitting her to do what she has been mandated to do.
“She has been appointed and contracted and that is that. Now let her get on and do her job.”
Community activist advocate Jock McConnachie disagreed saying being paid huge amounts for three day’s work a week was “unconscionable”.
“There was also never any previous indication that she was appointed in anything other than her personal capacity.
“It is obvious that Ms Yako has secured a luxury compartment on Makana’s gravy train to nowhere as even our local station is in ruins.
“She must do the honourable thing and disembark.”
DA MP Andrew Whitfield said transparency and accountability were non-negotiable if South Africa wanted to realise its full potential. — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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