Nkonkobe ANC ward councilor Nanziwe Rulashe will receive her full salary every month without any deductions, the Grahamstown High Court ruled last week.
The ruling follows a process started by Nkonkobe Local Municipality in January to deduct money from Rulashe’s salary to recoup an amount of R207281.32 she was paid between 2012 and 2013. At the time Rulashe earned an annual salary of R183541.44.
However, she was also chairwoman of the municipal public accounts committee (MPAC) at the Amathole District Municipality, a position that earned her an annual salary of R549591.96.
Cooperative governance MEC Fikile Xasa was drawn into the matter and found Rulashe liable to pay back some of the remuneration she received while a councillor in both municipalities.
But Rulashe approached the courts for recourse when Nkon-kobe decided to deduct money from her salary without her permission.
On Thursday the Grahamstown High Court ordered Nkonkobe not to dock Rulashe’s salary, adding the January decision by the municipality was unlawful.
Nkonkobe spokeswoman Siyasanga Hompashe said the municipality will abide by the court order and the matter will now be referred back to Xasa’s office.
In her founding affidavit seen by the Dispatch Rulashe stated the charges were politically motivated as she was singled out as belonging to one of the two contesting ANC “factions” within the district.
“Due to the then hostile nature of the two contesting party factions, allegations were levelled against me during that time leading up to the 2014 national elections suggesting that I was overpaid by the Amathole District municipality whilst I was the chairperson of the MPAC,” Rulashe wrote.
She denied that she owed Nkonkobe money.
Nkonkobe councillor to be paid
The ruling follows a process started by Nkonkobe Local Municipality in January to deduct money from Rulashe’s salary to recoup an amount of R207281.32 she was paid between 2012 and 2013. At the time Rulashe earned an annual salary of R183541.44.
However, she was also chairwoman of the municipal public accounts committee (MPAC) at the Amathole District Municipality, a position that earned her an annual salary of R549591.96.
Cooperative governance MEC Fikile Xasa was drawn into the matter and found Rulashe liable to pay back some of the remuneration she received while a councillor in both municipalities.
But Rulashe approached the courts for recourse when Nkon-kobe decided to deduct money from her salary without her permission.
On Thursday the Grahamstown High Court ordered Nkonkobe not to dock Rulashe’s salary, adding the January decision by the municipality was unlawful.
Nkonkobe spokeswoman Siyasanga Hompashe said the municipality will abide by the court order and the matter will now be referred back to Xasa’s office.
In her founding affidavit seen by the Dispatch Rulashe stated the charges were politically motivated as she was singled out as belonging to one of the two contesting ANC “factions” within the district.
“Due to the then hostile nature of the two contesting party factions, allegations were levelled against me during that time leading up to the 2014 national elections suggesting that I was overpaid by the Amathole District municipality whilst I was the chairperson of the MPAC,” Rulashe wrote.
She denied that she owed Nkonkobe money.
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