The FF Plus voted against a salary increase for councillors in the Tshwane Metro Council yesterday even through Tshwane councillors have not received a raise for the past seven years.
The party is not opposed to giving councillors a raise, but seeing as the Metro currently finds itself in a financial crisis, it is unaffordable.
One of the causes of the financial crisis is outstanding Eskom debt as well as the agreement reached between the Metro and Eskom in terms of a court order.
If the Metro fails to comply with the conditions of this court order, Eskom may attach the Metro’s bank account, as in the case of the Emfuleni Local Municipality.
As a result, Emfuleni was unable to pay salaries and its creditors.
The FF Plus cannot morally or ethically agree to any needless expense that could put the Metro in that same position.
It will also send the wrong message to residents seeing as there is already a shortfall when it comes to service delivery.
The FF Plus also voiced its dissatisfaction with the contracting of cleaning services that will see taxpayers shelling out another R7,8 million per year.
Tshwane’s current government led by the ActionSA Mayor, Nasipi Moya, went to great lengths to steamroller it through.
The FF Plus will continue to hold the ruling party in the Metro accountable to establish financial security and stop the squandering of tax money.
