Polokwane ANC says hike in councillors' salaries a reward for their hard work

JOHANNESBURG - The African National Congress (ANC) in Polokwane said that the increases in councillor salaries was a reward for their hard work to get the municipality to a grade six status.

The Limpopo-based municipality, which is governed by the ANC, had its application for a grade six classification accepted by the provincial government.

A grade six status is the highest classification for municipalities, with only metros having enough revenue and population to meet the set criteria.

The upgrade also comes with significant salary increases for the mayor, committee chairpersons and all councillors.

"Attaining a grade six shows improvement in the municipality but those improvements are as a result of the hard work that both the council and the executive have put [in] and with that work must come remuneration that matches the hard work," said  ANC regional spokesperson, Adolph Rapetswa.

Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus leader, Jacques Joubert, said that the municipalities could not afford the salary bumps.

"Those types of expenses (are too much), it’s a major impact. They don’t take rational decisions, they take emotional decisions just to get their friends, colleagues and cadres higher salaries."