NEWLY elected ward committee members, representing 110 Municipal wards in eThekwini, are calling on the metro to increase their monthly stipend of R1,000, saying the amount is not enough for the work done by them in their communities. The committee members expressed their dissatisfaction at the two-day ward committee induction ceremony, which took place at the Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (ICC) over the weekend.
“You always tell us that we must be one with our ward Councillor, but at a recent service delivery strike in our ward, the Councillor was airlifted to safety after the community attacked us, but ward committee members were left there to fend themselves without any assistance. We do not have any medical aid or support from government and the work done by ward committees is huge, you cannot expect them to earn R1 000. We suggest that all the ward Councillor contribute 5% of their salaries to ward committee members,” said Nkanyezi from the Harry Gwala Region.
Deputy City Manager: Governance, Sipho Cele said the suggestion was noted, but that the stipend was not a salary. We are not saying the conditions you are working under are conducive, however at this particular juncture we are not in a position to speak or make promises about monetary issues.
“Councillors do not earn a salary but get an allowance and most of them are part-time and not full-time. Because the job of being a Councillor is demanding they are forced give up their full-time jobs and focus on their jobs as ward Councillor. Councillors receive far less than what they do compared to ward committees, but we will pass the message to the city about the issue of stipends,” said Cele.
eThekwini Council speaker, William Mapena, had harsh words for those calling for an increase and reminded them that as public representatives they did not fill any job application forms and were serving as volunteers.
“Being a ward committee member is more about you serving the people but you are making it about you. Our role is to be accountable to the communities we serve, the people of South Africa, irrespective of who they voted for. You must work with what you have so that you are within the law,” said Mapena.
Section 77 of the Municipal Structures Act 117 of 1998 states that, “No remuneration is payable to a ward committee member.” However, every ward committee member may receive out of pocket expenses for attending stipulated functional areas as enlisted in the provincial framework, which include: Active involvement in ward based development, monitoring and evaluation thereof by ward committees.
