Mayor to earn full benefits during his month off

THE ACTING municipal manager, Bongiwe Mnikathi, voiced her concerns regarding the financial implications around the council decision to grant the mayor 30 days leave at the last council meeting.
Ms Mnikathi said that she was currently seeking a legal opinion on whether the Cllr Mtshali would still be granted the benefits association with the position of mayor, while he was on leave. She will then request a special council meeting to present the legal opinion she obtains.
In his request to be granted relief from his ceremonial duties, the mayor stated that due to reports that had been published by the media regarding the matter between him and the Department of Education, he had asked for council to allow him time to judiciously attend to these allegations.
The council then granted him a 30 day relieve period.
According to a letter that was issued by his lawyer to council, the mayor had been advised to take a low profile and to relinquish his power and functions as mayor, from January 12 until February 19.
The lawyer went on to request that the mayor remain an Executive Committee member, chairperson of the portfolio committees he leads and that of finance and community services, a full time councillor as designated by council and that all his benefits remain unchanged as assigned to him for performance of normal duties.

During the meeting, the acting MM expressed being uncomfortable about still paying out benefits and went on to say that she would be referring to legal advisors about the matter.
The publicity secretary of the IFP AbaQulusi constituency, Cllr Jerry Sibiya said that it was important to note that the mayor is on a relief period and thus still entitled to all his rights as a councillor.
“The best example to use in this instance, would be that of being advised by a doctor to take a few days off work because you have been diagnosed with stress. This does not mean you are leaving your job, no, you have only requested a couple of days to get yourself together,” said Cllr Sibiya.
Cllr Sibiya went on to say that all matters had been discussed with the legal advisers prior to being brought forward before council and this is why the mayor’s lawyer advised that he is still entitled to all his benefits as per usual.
“We cannot interfere with his benefits because he is not suspended.
“Measures that abide by legislation have been taken into consideration,” said Cllr Sibiya.