No induction, no payment for ward committee members

POLOKWANE – Ward 35 committee members who were elected by the Polokwane Municipality in February will not be receiving salaries as they had not been fully inaugurated, according to the municipality.

The municipal council has dissolved the committee and opted to elect and induct a new one according to the confines of the Local Government regulations.

Municipal spokesperson Thipa Selala says the disbanded members were not supposed to serve communities before the induction process was completed.

“To get their stipends, they have to be elected. Their election should be approved by council and then they should undergo an induction process. They worked outside the process so the council will not be responsible for any payments towards duties they performed,” Selala said.

Some ward committee members from areas in and around the city marched to the municipal offices on September 15, with a memorandum of grievances directed to Polokwane Mayor John Mpe.

The memorandum was signed and received by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Administration councillor Zanele Mashalane.

Selala, however also admitted that the ward members had to be removed from office as the municipality had exceeded the permitted maximum of 10 members per ward, contravening the Structures Act used to manage the office bearers of South African municipalities.

He could not give answers as to how this happened.

The ward committee members, however, feel they are entitled to the monthly stipends of R1 700 for their eight months of work.

Elliot Malesela, Seshego Ward 14 committee member, said the rerun will cause fights within communities.

“Imagine now they are firing me without having paid me, but they may hire my neighbour or family member. Will I be happy?” he asked.

Selala said the process to choose new ward committee members has already started and is ongoing until October 14, as permitted by Limpopo Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs MEC, Basikopo Makamu.