Councillors set to get risk insurance
2012-12-15 22:29
Johannesburg - Co-operative Governance and Traditional
Affairs Minister Richard Baloyi has instructed all municipalities to take
special risk insurance for councillors, according to a report on Saturday.
The Saturday Star reported that a notice of the instruction
was published in the government gazette last week and would protect councillors
and their own property against violent service delivery protests.
It forms part of the newly published wage increases,
allowances and benefits for mayors and municipal speakers, members of the
executive, chief whips, committee members and councillors.
The gazette orders municipalities to take out cover similar
to risk insurance to ensure councillors' properties are covered to provide for
loss or damage to their property or assets arising from civil unrest, riots,
strikes or public disorder, according to the report.
The SA Local Government Association (Salga) made
representations to the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public
Office Bearers in September.
Salga told a special national conference that councillors
needed risk cover against the real risk they face in their capacity as local
public representatives.
They said the lives and property of councillors were often
placed at risk.
- SAPA
