Mayor pockets R53 000 a month
2011-12-18 15:00
Mmanaledi Mataboge, City Press
Johannesburg - Phaladi Saku, the executive mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality, was until recently earning two salaries, even though she no longer holds one of the jobs.
Saku, who was appointed mayor after this year’s local government elections, continued to draw a salary from the North West department of education until the end of last month.
City Press has seen documentary proof from both the municipality and the education department to confirm this.
As mayor, Saku takes home R38 900 a month after tax, which includes a vehicle allowance of R12 600 despite each municipality providing cars for its mayors; a cellphone allowance of R2 900; a subsistence allowance of R400; and R10 000 for an unexplained “public office allowance”.
At the education department, where she’s employed as an education specialist, Saku takes home just more than R14 000 a month.
An education department source said Saku also continues to enjoy benefits such as medical aid and pension fund contributions.
Saku did not answer calls from City Press or respond to three text messages sent to her.
Different bank accounts
In addition to the salary from the education department, Saku was also paid a bonus of just more than R22 000 in her birthday month of August. Her salaries are paid into two different bank accounts.
North West education spokesperson Gershwin Chuenyane said Saku did not resign from the education department, as was required when she became the executive mayor in June.
But she had resigned on November 29, he claimed.
“Her employment will be duly terminated with effect from the time she became mayor [and] all money she received when she was not supposed to, including the bonus, will be recovered from her,” he said.
