Anger at Zuma's freeze on public officials' salaries

President's Jacob Zuma's decision to freeze the salaries of most public representatives and executives has angered an association representing most of South Africa's mayors and councillors.

Zuma said this week that he had accepted a recommendation by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers that most office holders should get no increases for the 2016-17 financial year due to the poor performance of the economy.

The commission said the freeze should apply to, among others, cabinet ministers, provincial premiers, MPs, mayors, municipal council speakers and whips.

However, ordinary councillors should get a 4% cost-of-living increase and magistrates a 6% increase.

But the South African Local Government Association has opposed to the decision, arguing that mayors should not be treated the same as more highly paid ministers and MPs.

The deputy president of the association, eMalahleni mayor Lindiwe Ntshalintshali, said Salga would seek a meeting with the commission to try to get it to reverse its recommendation to Zuma.

"Why single out mayors, speakers and chief whips? Are they not councillors?" she asked.

"When it suits them [the national government], we are all public office bearers; we're treated the same. But check what councillors are paid vis-à-vis your MPs, MPLs and your national [office bearers].

"It's completely different, but they want to treat us the same as the president and ministers and the gap is quite huge," said Ntshalintshali.

Mayors earn between R689,000 and R1.2-million a year, depending on the size of the municipality. Council speakers earn just over R1-million while whips are paid R940,000.

The president's annual pay package amounts to more than R2.8-million and cabinet ministers get about R2.3-million. Backbenchers in the National Assembly receive just over R1-million a year.

An ordinary municipal councillor is paid just over R540,000 a year.

Ntshalintshali accused the commission of bias against mayors, arguing they were also councillors.

"The anger ... is because the president, ministers, deputies, premiers and MECs, speakers, mayors and whips will not get increases.

"That is why as Salga, we said we must further engage the commission, further engage Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the National Treasury.

"We will not leave this matter until [we] are taken seriously," she said.

But Ntshalintshali's position has not won the backing of all mayors.

Cape Town's DA mayor, Patricia de Lille, said she would not support Salga's push for salary hikes for local government leaders.

"We must all make the sacrifice to save the country," she said. "There are many people living without food and a job, and as leaders we must lead by example."

Ekurhuleni's ANC mayor, Mzwandile Masina, declined to comment.

"I'm not in the executive of Salga at any level. I will not be privy to their discussions and positions."

Nelson Mandela Bay metro mayor Athol Trollip has taken a neutral stance.

"Salga is a local-government organisation and its mandate is to represent its members, that's what they must do," he said.

"We are an active member of Salga and I have not canvassed their view with my colleagues who are full-time councillors."

Ntshalintshali said the local-government association would demand that the salaries of local government office holders be paid from the national fiscus rather than from municipal budgets.

She said this would free up more funds for service delivery.