The DA in eThekwini rejects ANC-EFF R71 million budget to pay performance bonuses to Municipal staff

14 December 2022

If you were to ask the residents of eThekwini whether they are satisfied with the performance of the municipality, the answer would be a resounding NO.

Consequently, how would you explain awarding performance incentives to grade 3-9 staff that do not perform?

The DA therefore voted against the possible ANC-EFF’s first joint project in awarding performance bonuses to staff while there is no money to fix the sewage crisis or dilapidated pools.

Even while there are some individuals who have performed well, it is sad that they must shoulder the majority of the blame and be grouped alongside others who have performed poorly.

The city's deteriorating infrastructure, broken streetlights, clogged drainage systems, a lack of upkeep, dilapidated roads, sewage pouring into houses and sea, and a farce of a call center have all left a bad taste in people's mouths.

Prioritizing employee capacity building and equipping them with the tools they need to execute at the level the city requires, should take precedence over lavishly spending money on mediocre performance.

Giving out performance bonuses will be a slap in the face to ratepayers, since their hard-earned money will not provide a return on investment but will instead benefit the corrupt and lazy within the municipality.

We simply cannot reward a culture of mediocrity as ANC in eThekwini wants to reward itself for driving our beloved municipality into the ground!

We have demonstrated as the DA via our leadership in Umngeni that we strive for excellence and provide ratepayers with the greatest possible return on the investment they made through their ballots.

Issued by Thabani Mthethwa, DA eThekwini Caucus Leader, 14 December 2022