Drama as fired councillors demand salaries!

THE expelled councillors at the cash-strapped Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality in the Free State demand millions in unpaid salaries.

This follows the MAP16 Civic Movement, created by 16 councillors expelled from the ANC in 2019, boycotting the council sitting on Tuesday, 12 February, to demand their outstanding salaries totalling R4 million.

These councillors were expelled after voting to unseat the former ANC mayor, Vusi Tshabalala.

Despite their expulsion, the councillors returned as independents, winning 10 wards in the by-elections, leaving the ANC with only five.

According to MAP16 Civic Movement convenor Paratlane Motloung, the affected councillors have an agreement with the municipality to pay their outstanding balances, but the municipality has allegedly resorted to delaying tactics.

"We had a discussion with Troika and top officials of the municipality and agreed to settle out of court. There was a decision to withdraw the item from previous sittings and re-evaluate it through proper calculations and internal auditing. After all processes, the item was brought back to the council, but the mayor withdrew it for what we believe to be political reasons," he said.

Motloung has made it clear that the councillors will not participate in council sittings until their outstanding salaries are fully resolved by the municipality. Maluti-a-Phofung municipal Speaker Mandlenkosi Dlamini revealed that councillors haven't received their salaries for five months following their expulsion.

The issue led to a court battle, later settled out of court. However, the problem persists due to disagreements between the mayor and the councillors on how to proceed with the payment.

"The councillors first raised this concern in December last year, but a resolution has yet to be reached. The councillors deserve to be paid. I've advised that boycotting council sittings will force me to invoke standing rules and orders as a code of conduct. We have exhausted the matter in Troika meetings, but it's unclear why payments have been delayed," said Dlamini.

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He expressed his disappointment with some ANC councillors who also boycotted a sitting when the council was supposed to discuss crucial matters.

He confirmed that out of the 70 councillors, only 35 attended the sitting. The council descended into chaos when Dlamini and Mayor Malekula Melato exchanged words, with the mayor eventually walking out.

Speaking to Daily Sun, Dlamini directly implicated the mayor, saying he's the one blocking councillors' payments.

"The mayor promised to bring this item to council for us to approve. When we ask about it, she gives us a disrespectful response," he said.

Mayor Melato disputed that she's the one blocking councillors' payments.

She outlined that the matter has been with the municipality since 2021 and that it has been registered by the council.

Melato emphasised that she has consulted with the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the Auditor-General for advice on whether the payment aligns with legislation.

EFF leader in the council, Choco Mkhwanazi, has requested a meeting with mayor Melato, Dlamini, and chief whip to resolve the matter.