The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Emfuleni Local Municipality has raised concerns about what it describes as severe financial mismanagement after revelations that the municipality spent over R500 million on overtime in the past five years.
According to a reply from Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, Emfuleni allocated between R91 million and R124 million annually to overtime payments from the 2019/2020 to 2023/2024 financial years.
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many employees worked remotely, R102 million was paid out in overtime for the 2020/21 financial year.
Last year, the municipality faced a cash flow crisis, failing to pay September salaries on time after Eskom attached its bank accounts due to outstanding electricity bills.
DA Gauteng legislature member Kingsol Chabalala criticised the spending and argued that it is unjustifiable for a municipality that struggles to deliver basic services.
“We believe employees are colluding with managers
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