Note to Editors: Please find the attached soundbite in English by DA Councillor Nelio Nhacuangue
On Tuesday 28 July 2020, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Rustenburg Local Municipality rejected the proposed 4% salary increases for councillors and a 6.1% increase for senior municipal managers. The money should be redirected towards social relief efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and improve services for the people of Rustenburg.
The proposal for the salary increases was adopted by the ANC during a virtual council meeting with support from the EFF and Forum For Service Delivery. The Freedom Front abstained from adding their inputs on the deliberations.
The DA is the only party that rejected the salary increases in support of redirecting the funds towards providing social relief to the residents of Rustenburg.
The municipality has incurred a revenue loss as residents and businesses are unable to pay their rates and municipal services bills.
The ANC led Rustenburg Local Municipality have displayed an image of an uncaring government which only looks after its own needs, this decision by council displays yet another missed opportunity by the ANC-led municipality to put the needs of residents above their own.
Many people are struggling to sustain themselves due to the economic effects brought by years of ANC corruption, poor policy decisions and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DA will continue to prioritise the lives and livelihoods of residents by proposing social relief plans to council to help residents get through this pandemic. We will play our oversight role in council to ensure that no money is misappropriated and that residents receive basic services.