GEORGE - The George Town Council is divided over the leave payout of Cecil Africa, Municipal Manager of George. The matter was left unresolved after the DA walked out in protest from the hastily called special town council meeting on 23 December. At that meeting councillors were unanimous in rati-fying a 7% pay increase granted by the minister of local government. How-ever, the meeting could not continue as there was no quorum after the DA had left.

This week, DA Executive Committee member Daniel Maritz, said he felt that the ID and ANC were trying to force the issue. "It is not that we are against Africa’s leave being paid out, it simply is a matter of not having enough information to make an informed decision. The controversy is likely to be debated at the 12 January Special Town Council meeting."
Africa said, "It is beyond me that political games are being played with my bonus."

According to Mayor Flip de Swardt the items pertaining Africa’s perks should ne-ver have appeared on the 23 December agenda as it was most certainly not an urgent matter. His performance bonus should not have appeared on the agenda without prior notification. "I was only given notice the night before (22 December) of the meeting, when the agenda was dropped off at my house.

"The performance committee and I had recommended a 9% performance bonus after which Africa had declared a dispute. Minister of Local Government Anton Bredell ruled in favour of 9% bonus, and not 14% as he (Africa) had asked for. De Swardt said there has been negotiations between himself and Africa for some time now over the leave payout. "Although I have suggested that Council needs to compile a policy on the payout of leave for contract employees, the matter should not have been handled the way it had."
Africa responded by saying that if Council had ruled in favour of a payout on his accumula-ted leave on 23 December, it could quite simply have determined the policy for future cases.

Africa said he had never asked for 75 days to be paid out. "According to Human Resources’ internal audit records, I have 75 days to my credit. The reason for this accumulated leave is due to work responsibilities beyond my control. Then there was 19 days leave which had to be converted into leave due to an injury on 24 December 2008, whilst on duty. I merely wanted one month to be paid out at the end of January, as regulations determine.

"My contract stipulates that my bonus is due to be paid out at the end of the financial year, at the end of June, of each year. The purpose of the item being placed before council was merely to notify and ratify the pay-out. The final say rests with the Mayor. Even if I had asked for 75 days leave to be paid out, it would not have amounted to R300 000; the councillor who has been spreading this rumour, has been spreading misinformation. I pray that the witch hunt will come to an end so that in 2010 officials and councillors can concentrate their attention on the real issues and meet the challenges," said Africa in conclusion.

An angered De Swardt said Africa should not forget that he (Africa) is accountable to him as Executive Mayor and that as such he should in future take the trouble to discuss perks with him directly and thus avoid such controversies. "I read in a regional newspaper that he had made the time to discuss the issue with Speaker Bazil Petrus."
Minister Bredell stated that the DA policy was not to pay out leave as it was not intended for officials to enrich themselves.