Traditional leaders serving in the Buffalo City council are set to receive a R5000 a month windfall with an allowance newly-approved by council.
This is R2000 more than the minimum amount stipulated by the department of corporative governance and traditional affairs, which set a guide for all councils in the province.
The R5000 comes a few months before next year’s local government elections and follows a recent threat that traditional leaders will field their own candidates in next year’s local government elections.
The president of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) Chief Setlamorago Thobejane, an ANC MP, lashed out at the ANC at a Contralesa Eastern Cape conference in Mthatha on Friday.
He said traditional leaders were fed up with being used as “voting cows” by the party.
According to a report tabled by council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, the allowance “is intended to cover for the cost incurred by an identified leader in respect of refreshments and of being absent overnight from his/her normal residence.”
In addition, the traditional leaders will be entitled to an R800 allowance for each council meeting they attend.
There are 20 traditional leaders in the 120-member BCM council. Even though they take part in all council discussions, they have no powers to vote.
The recommendations were adopted during last Wednesday’s council meeting held at Abbotsford Christian Centre.
Before the recommendations were adopted, DA councillor Robert Muzzell asked if the “5000” mentioned in the report was R5000 or 5000 cents.
But PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo replied saying councillors were part of a council meeting held on October 23 where the review of allowances was the sole item.
“It was agreed that it will be R5000 per month. The only thing we need to confirm is whether what is contained in this report is what we discussed in that workshop,” said Mdyolo.
ANC councillor Sakhumzi Caga tried but failed to have the allowances backdated as Simon-Ndzele insisted councillors stick to what was discussed at the October meeting.
“I will not allow that we discuss anything outside what was discussed in that workshop,” said the speaker.
It was then agreed to pass the R5000 monthly allowance. It remains unclear where the funds to pay the 20 traditional leaders will be sourced from.
The allowances are in addition to the metro providing office space, office furniture, stationary and a landline for each traditional leader.
They are also supplied with a cellphone on contract, a laptop or iPad, and study assistance.
Simon-Ndzele said chiefs had reason to celebrate. “But we must ask our traditional leaders not to take part in protests marches,” she said. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
An extra R5k for chiefs on council
This is R2000 more than the minimum amount stipulated by the department of corporative governance and traditional affairs, which set a guide for all councils in the province.
The R5000 comes a few months before next year’s local government elections and follows a recent threat that traditional leaders will field their own candidates in next year’s local government elections.
The president of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa (Contralesa) Chief Setlamorago Thobejane, an ANC MP, lashed out at the ANC at a Contralesa Eastern Cape conference in Mthatha on Friday.
He said traditional leaders were fed up with being used as “voting cows” by the party.
According to a report tabled by council speaker Luleka Simon-Ndzele, the allowance “is intended to cover for the cost incurred by an identified leader in respect of refreshments and of being absent overnight from his/her normal residence.”
In addition, the traditional leaders will be entitled to an R800 allowance for each council meeting they attend.
There are 20 traditional leaders in the 120-member BCM council. Even though they take part in all council discussions, they have no powers to vote.
The recommendations were adopted during last Wednesday’s council meeting held at Abbotsford Christian Centre.
Before the recommendations were adopted, DA councillor Robert Muzzell asked if the “5000” mentioned in the report was R5000 or 5000 cents.
But PAC councillor Jerome Mdyolo replied saying councillors were part of a council meeting held on October 23 where the review of allowances was the sole item.
“It was agreed that it will be R5000 per month. The only thing we need to confirm is whether what is contained in this report is what we discussed in that workshop,” said Mdyolo.
ANC councillor Sakhumzi Caga tried but failed to have the allowances backdated as Simon-Ndzele insisted councillors stick to what was discussed at the October meeting.
“I will not allow that we discuss anything outside what was discussed in that workshop,” said the speaker.
It was then agreed to pass the R5000 monthly allowance. It remains unclear where the funds to pay the 20 traditional leaders will be sourced from.
The allowances are in addition to the metro providing office space, office furniture, stationary and a landline for each traditional leader.
They are also supplied with a cellphone on contract, a laptop or iPad, and study assistance.
Simon-Ndzele said chiefs had reason to celebrate. “But we must ask our traditional leaders not to take part in protests marches,” she said. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos