Concerns mount as KDM allocates additional R17.2-million to overtime budget

More than R70-million of ratepayer funds will be spent on municipal overtime in the current financial year.

This was revealed during an adjustment budget presentation to the KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) council last week, where an extra R17.2-million was allocated to the staff overtime budget.

At the end of December, which is halfway through the 2023/24 financial year, KDM had spent more than 60% of the initial R53.8-million budget.

This led to an internal municipal memorandum issued on February 12, which prevented any overtime spending unless personally approved by the municipal manager.

According to the memorandum, the municipal salaries budget had become ‘distressed’.

The overtime budget increase drew bipartisan concern from councillors.

“The aspect of overtime has become a disease of sorts during my time at the municipality,” said Independent Alliance councillor, Ebrahim Kolia.

“Far too many of the staff have become comfortable with overtime work and very little actually gets done during working hours.”

African National Congress councillor and council speaker, Dolly Govender, agreed.

“The norm is that they want to take a second salary check home,” she said.

“We have all of this budget and can only allocate R1-million for pothole repairs. It is disappointing.”

The budget for potholes, streetlights, storm water maintenance and grading of roads increased by a combined R2.2-million.

Elsewhere in the adjustment budget, another R80.8-million was allocated for bulk electricity purchases to keep pace with KDM’s soaring losses.

At mid-year, the municipality had already lost over R175-million of the electricity it had purchased.

KDM lost R181-million over the entire year just three years ago, signalling a worrying spiral downwards for the electricity unit.

“We know that this is an annual item but it is so disappointing to see that nothing has changed yet again,” said Democratic Alliance caucus leader, Tammy Colley.

“Is this upcoming energy indaba that has been promised actually going to make any difference?”

Colley also criticised an extra R2-million in ad hoc security costs – long a point of contention from opposition councillors.

“This is ridiculous. If political parties have councillors in danger during election campaigning, then the party should pay for it, not the ratepayer,” she said.

Overall, the combined operating and capital expenditure budgets were increased from R3.72- to R3.77-billion.

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