Remuneration of municipal councilors

In the highly effective and efficient municipalities of the pre-1994 dispensation municipal, councillors received no remuneration (expect for small allowances to recover costs incurred in executing their duties). And yet, things operated well; actually, excellently – although, regrettable, accessible to any some members of the larger local communities. Nowadays councillors are remunerated… (o well, let me try not to be rude…) … very well. And municipalities are collapsing.

The salaries and benefits of municipal councillors are determined by the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act, 1998; and then (currently) specifically the regulations titled Determination of upper limits of salaries, wages and benefits of different members of municipal councillors (the September 2023 version).

Depending on the classification of a municipality, in terms of its population and revenue collected, remuneration vary between full-time and part-time councillors, with salaries varying substantially between the two. (The determination of who are “full-time” councillors are done by the MEC for local government in a Province).  

The remuneration for part-time councilors are as follow:

The regulations makes provision for the following types of additional remuneration to municipal councilors that are not included in the calculations dione by this template:

-- Allowances of R1,179-50 per day to attend intergovermnetal forums.

-- Out of pocket expenses.

-- Cell phone allowance of R3,600 per month.

-- Mobile data: R317 per month.

-- Risk-related expenses.

So, let me ask you this: Given the conditions in your municipality, do you think out honourable councillors deserve these salaries?

Strangely enough, I have never heard a single political party objecting to the salaries. Not only, but also add to the open irritation and arrogance with which councillors often treat members of the public [and this is DEFINATELY NOT only ANC councillors.

A final thought: The excuse of councillors of other parties that they are powerless, because it is the ANC that is responsible for the mess, irritates me endlessly. Besides, it is not only ANC councillors that benefit from the more than adequate salaries, for which we must pay, is it?

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Download an Excel spreadsheet below to do a quick analysis of the salaries of municipal councilors in your municipality.

Remuneration-Municipal councilors.xlsx

Download XLSX • 115KB

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