GEORGE NEWS - The cost of two additional directors for George Municipality will be R1,5-million each per year. The George Council recently approved the two posts, following the addition of two new directorates to the George Municipality's organogram.
The Directorate of Human Settlements, Planning and Development has been divided, with Planning and Development now on its own. The Directorate of Protection Services forms the eighth directorate, after it was separated from the Directorate of Community Services.
According to municipal spokesperson Chantel Edwards-Klose, the R1,5-million budgeted for each director is for the total remuneration package, which is in line with the legislation for the upper limits on total remuneration packages for senior management, gazetted annually.
"The package is inclusive of all fringe benefits such as the full medical aid, full pension, full car allowance, etc.," said Edwards-Klose.
PBI councillor Virgill Gericke expressed his concern in council over the total cost of the packages to the George Municipality. He said the R1,5-million is considerably more than the package of R788 000 per year other directors of the municipality receive.
"This salary is a massive burden on the taxpayer. It is far out of proportion to the national standard of R788 000 a year for an Article 56 appointment (director)," said Gericke.
Virgill Gericke
"A council decision was approved in early 2016 regarding the director's salary scale. That decision has not yet been revoked by the current council."
According to Edwards-Klose a new recruitment and selection process for the relevant positions will take place. The current contract of Steven Erasmus, director of Human Settlements, Planning and Development, expires on 31 August.
"The positions will be advertised in line with the newly approved macro structure," said Edwards-Klose. "The critical vacant positions will be filled in line with the approved budget.
The employees occupying the relevant positions will be plotted accordingly within the new micro structure, considering the newly approved macro structure. The vacant budgeted senior manager positions will be handled in line with the relevant legislation."
Municipal Manager Trevor Botha said the restructuring is necessary to ensure more effective service delivery and to make provision for further growth and expansion of the municipality.
"The City of George is growing at a rapid pace with a commensurate population increase. The George Municipality must, in accordance with relevant legislation, review its organisational structure annually and amend it in consequence of changing circumstances and service delivery demands."
ARTICLE: MICHELLE PIENAAR, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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