Traditional Leaders salary bill to balloon to R407 million

23 June 2015 

I will today write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Richard Mdakane, to request that he summon the Independent Commission for Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, to appear before the Committee to provide comprehensive answers on why the salaries of traditional leaders and headmen were drastically increased (see TimesLive report).

It is unclear what necessitated such a dramatic salary increase, or how the figure of 28% was arrived at in the first place.

If implemented, the traditional affairs wage bill will increase from R317 million this year to R407 million for the next financial year. 

Provinces will be expected to raise the R90 million in funds needed, most likely at the expense of service delivery and poverty relief programmes. 

Whilst we wholly acknowledge that traditional leadership plays a role in our diverse society and communities across the country, fairness in the spending of public funds must prevail at all times. 

It is of utmost importance that South Africans are provided with clarity on this exorbitant salary increase for traditional leaders as it appears to be pure electioneering by the ANC to buy the confidence of traditional leaders and their juniors ahead of next year’s local government elections. 

Statement issued by Nqaba Bhanga MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, June 23 2015