ELM pays employee thousands for not taking leave
The official works in the office of the Municipal Manager (MM).
SEDIBENG.- The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) is said to have “wasted” more than R130 000 to compensate an employee for accumulated leave since 2017.
This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo. According to Mamabolo, the official works in the office of the Municipal Manager (MM).
He claimed the amount after he told his bosses that he wanted to cash in his leave days.
The DA’s Kingsol Chabalala said that the leave encashment of the employee contravenes the ELM’s Leave Administration Policy. The policy was amended in 2022 and stipulates that, “an employee is entitled to retain a maximum of 48 days of accrued leave; any leave in excess of this is forfeited at the end of the leave cycle unless it was accrued due to operational purposes.”
According to Chabalala, the leave encashment raises suspicion, especially because it occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic when everyone was expected to work from home; which would eliminate the possibility of accruing leave due to operational services.
“The DA has been reliably informed that some employees who applied for leave encashment were denied their request,” said Chabalala. The DA demands that Mamabolo launch an urgent investigation about the payout, they have also requested an investigation from the Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka’s office.
The DA demands that the Public Protector’s office:
1. Conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this leave encashment.
2. Determine whether the payout was indeed unlawful and in contravention of municipal policies.
3. If found to be unlawful, compel the employee to repay the full amount to the municipality.
4. Identify and hold accountable any officials who authorised this payout, if it is found to be improper.
5. Review the ELM’s overall leave administration practices to ensure compliance with policies and prevent
future misuse of public funds
Sedibeng Ster sent ELM spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni an enquiry about the matter, he had not responded at the time of going to print.
