POLOKWANE – During a recent council meeting, the Polokwane Municipality approved an increase in salaries, allowances and benefits that will add R66.4m to the annual expenses for remuneration of 90 councillors of which 45 are elected in wards and 45 holding office on a proportional basis.

This is in accordance with the upper limits for councillors that were promulgated by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa on August 14, 2025 and will be effective retrospective from July 1, 2024.

How the new salaries are determined:

The new salary structure is calculated using a national formula based on two factors:

• Municipal income: R2.28 billion
• Population: 843 459 residents

Under the new structure:

• Mayor John Mpe will earn R1 585 052 per annum.
• Speaker Welhemina Modiba will receive R1 280 117.
• Full-time councillors, including members of the Mayoral Committee and Chief Whip Adolf Rapetswa, will earn R1 205 851.
• Committee chairpersons will receive R1 170 478.
• Part-time councillors will be paid R593 610 per year.

The members of the mayoral committee are Zanele Mashalane, (Human Settlements), Nomonde Sivhabu (Energy Services), Alfred Moakamedi (Water and Sanitation), Jeneffer Malope (Waste and Environment), Jerry Mamabolo (Sport, Arts, Culture and Special Programmes), Desmond Moloto (Roads, Transport and Stormwater), Puleng Mashangoane (LED, Land Use and Spatial Planning), Tshepo Nkwe (Finance), Joosuf Pemma (Community Services) and Betty Kgare (Admin and Governance).

Additional allowances and benefits

Councillors will also receive:

• Cell phone allowance: up to R3 600 per month
• Data allowance: R317 per month
• Tools of trade, travel reimbursements and out-of-pocket expense claims

Although most residents consulted have agreed that councillors are entitled to be remunerated for services performed, although some are not comfortable with the rates at which councillors are paid while there is, according to them, a lack of service delivery and political will to take charge and deal with the challenges affecting residents on a daily basis.

“The councillors are our ears and mouths and they are the only persons who can make a difference. The municipality is over-sourced by a huge budget and the answer is just to utilise the funds in an effective and efficient manner in accordance with proper and educated planning,” a resident remarked.