VIP Police to Earn Big Bucks

Violation of Law: Tshwane Council Approves Fixed Allowance in Lieu of Overtime

- Antoinette Slabbert

The Tshwane metro council has approved a R35,000 fixed monthly allowance for members of its metro police force who drive around and protect the mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, and other VIPs – despite the fact that this will exceed the approved budget for the year by R10 million.

The allowance will be in lieu of payment for overtime, which, according to a report served before council, is unpredictable and difficult to manage. The council's struggle to manage overtime payments has in the past been flagged by the Auditor-General South Africa (AG), and the fixed allowance is, among other things, aimed at satisfying the AG.

It may, however, mask the fact that the VIP protectors work on average 103 hours of overtime per month, which far exceeds the limits set in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

The new allowance is in addition to the VIP protectors' salaries, as well as an extra 10% allowance for all metro police officers deployed operationally, which had already been agreed with unions earlier.

The speaker confirmed that the proposal was unanimously accepted by all parties in the council. However, it still needs the approval of the Local Labour Forum and will be discussed at a special meeting later this week.