LOUIS TRICHARDT – The report about the remuneration of the Municipal Manager and Managers who are directly accountable to him, was tabled during this week’s monthly meeting of the Makhado Municipal Council.

The mayor, Cllr Brighton Tlakula, was delegated at the end of last year to investigate the remuneration issue which sparked off vehement controversy, when Council was accused of voting exorbitant remuneration packages for its officials.

The envisaged remuneration for the Municipal Manager at one stage compared with that of the State President.

Cllr Tlakula said his investigation of the remuneration of managers of other municipalities and the nature and status of the Makhado Municipality convinced him that allegations of exorbitant salaries for the managers is a distortion of the true facts.

He emphasised the importance of being objective, realistic and fair when deciding upon the matter.

He said the size of the municipality has increased to 16 000 km². The responsibilities and duties of the Municipal Manager as entrenched in the Integrated Development Plan are enormous. The Makhado Municipality is graded as the 12th biggest in South Africa and the second biggest in the province. The salary of the municipal manager is supposed to determine the salary of the Vhembe District Municipal Manager as well as the salaries paid to the managers who are accountable to the Municipal Manager. Other municipalities, much smaller than Makhado, decided to give their Municipal Managers between the medium and maximum packages. The post of municipal manager and managers accountable to him are contractual and not permanent. The various packages were not determined by the municipality, but by P E Corporate Services as delegated by the Northern Province Local Government Association.

The fixed package of the Manager has to include medical aid contributions, group life insurance, pension fund, professional fees, travelling allowance, housing allowance, entertainment allowance, telephone costs as well as PAYE and other deductions.

“You will therefore realise how meagre is the cash allowance payable to the incumbent after all the deductions,” the mayor said.

He stressed that the Municipality needs committed officials in order to deliver and render the required services to the residents.

The Municipal Manager will sign a contract for five years with effect from June 1st, 2001. The contract will not be longer than two years after the election of the next Municipal Council.

A Performance Agreement will be concluded annually between the Municipal Manager and the Mayor on behalf of the Municipality.

The Municipal Manager must be given the medium salary pending the approval of the MEC and the NPLGA. The said salary will be a total package which will be inclusive of all benefits.

He said the incumbent, Mr Reuben Rambado have the necessary skills, expertise, capabilities and experience to hold the post.

“You will agree that ever since his appointment this municipality has moved with speed in so far as the provision of services like water supply, roads and disaster management are concerned. It is also a fact that he has brought stability and discipline to the institution and also among the employees,” the mayor said.