Muni upgrade: Debate erupts over salaries

Tensions briefly flared during an open-council sitting last Tuesday when Cope representative Erick Mohlapamaswi clashed with council whip Phetola Rapetswa over salary adjustments, following the announcement that the municipality had been upgraded to grade six status. Mayor John Mpe had celebrated the milestone, noting that the elevation brings the municipality closer to his long-term goal of achieving metropolitan status.

- Koketšo Sekhwela

Die dispuut het ontstaan oor voorstelle om die salarisse van raadslede en amptelik erkende politieke verteenwoordigers aan te pas in ooreenstemming met die nuwe gradering wat deur die Departement van Koöperatiewe Regering en Tradisionele Sake (Cogta) geadministreer word.

Mohlapamaswi het beswaar gemaak en aangevoer dat administrateurs en munisipale werkers, wat hy beskryf het as “baie hardwerkend en verdienstelik”, onbillik uitgesluit word van besprekings oor salarisaanpassings.