Councillors want to be paid R815 000 annually

Municipal councillors have appealed to Parliament to have their annual salaries increased to R815 000, the same amount that is paid to members of the provincial legislatures.

Business Live says the South African Local Government Association has recommended that all councillors be paid by the National Treasury. If the association is successful, the wage bill for the 9 000 councillors in South Africa will cost taxpayers an extra R7-billion a year.

Among the demands being made by councillors is that their current salaries, excluding car allowances are hiked from the minimum of R280 000 and the maximum of R542 000 to R815 000 - a significant increase.

Part-time councillors earn between R119 000 and R253 000 a year, excluding car allowances. Members of the provincial legislature also receive free cell phones, airtime and laptops - additional benefits that councillors do not get.

The association is asking Parliament to:

Increase their salaries to match those of the members of the provincial legislatures
Appoint all part-time councillors to full-time positions;
Provide councillors with risk benefits, including death, disability and funeral insurance at the state's expense, along with personal insurance for assets lost or damaged due to public violence;
Provide pension fund benefits equivalent to those granted to provincial and national government representatives;
Implement the salary increases by April next year.

Read the full article on www.timeslive.co.za.