Izinduna pay debacle threat to poll

Mawethu Mosery

Mawethu Mosery

Published Feb 9, 2016

Share

Durban - The non-payment of stipulated salaries of izinduna(headmen) has come to haunt the KwaZulu-Natal government, amid threats of disruption of the upcoming municipal poll.

The izindunawant the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta) to pay them the outstanding R84 125 annual salaries as recommended by the Commission on Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.

Their demand was on Monday backed by the Ubumbano Lwezinduna, KZN House of Traditional Leaders and Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa.

There is even mobilisation under way across the province to show their unhappiness over the non-payment of salaries, totalling R171 million, for the province’s 2 039 izinduna.

The turn of events comes after the izinduna warned the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) that they would not allow elections in their traditional areas.

At a media workshop at the weekend, the IEC reported that a group of izinduna from Ixopo had sent the electoral body a memorandum demanding payment of salaries owed to them.

The provincial government is paying them only monthly R1 300 stipends as a stop-gap measure after it entered into an agreement following the signing of a proclamation by President Jacob Zuma last year.

The stipend was initially paid to those who had been attending traditional councils, but was extended to all izinduna when Ubumbano Lwezinduna threatened to march to the provincial capital last year.

Provincial Treasury allocated R11.076m in the adjustment budget last November for stipends of 954 additional izinduna traditional leaders, who were not paid because they did not serve on traditional council.

KwaZulu-Natal has yet to pay the salaries of izinduna since the government started proclaiming salaries for them in 2006.

Only the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga have been paying their headmen monthly salaries of about R9 000 and R6 700 respectively.

On Monday, the IEC’s provincial electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery, said the IEC had advised the izinduna that disruptions would breach the electoral code of conduct.

Mosery also said they had advised them to continue engaging Cogta until the matter was resolved amicably, and that the memorandum had been forwarded to Cogta.

Cogta spokesman, Lennox Mabaso, said they would study the memorandum.

Mabaso said work was done towards ensuring salaries were paid to all izinduna based on a “roadmap” agreed to last year.

Asked about the “roadmap” and anticipated payment timeline, Mabaso said: “I can’t tell you. The izinduna can answer you if they like.”

He warned against disruptions of elections, saying it would infringe on the rights of the voters.

Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza, chairman of both KZN Contralesa and House of Traditional Leaders, said they backed the izinduna demands.

“The proclamation was signed by the president and we support it fully. We wish that the issue be sorted out and izinduna paid,” he said.

Chiliza added that the traditional leadership institution did not want the matter to reach disruption of elections.

“We, as traditional leadership, are a symbol of peace and unity.”

He, however, said he failed to understand why Zuma signed a proclamation and no provision was made for izindunas’ salaries.

“We say, as HTL and Contralesa, there is no way government can sign a proclamation and then there is an excuse that the money is inadequate. Why sign a proclamation in the first place?” he said.

Vusi Mthethwa, spokesman for Ubumbano Lwezinduna, confirmed that izinduna had met the IEC to notify them of their action after the failed payment of salaries.

“There were promises that talks would be made with Treasury to release funds so that izinduna can be paid like in other provinces from 2013 up to date.”

He said their disruption of the elections would be “peaceful”. “We will urge our people in traditional areas not to vote. We will inform them that we should boycott the election of councillors,” Mthethwa said.

He said mobilisation of izinduna was under way across the province.

“We have said in all districts the izinduna must take any action to show we are not happy with the way the talks are handled, until the MEC and premier resolve this peacefully,” he said.

Mthethwa also said they were still awaiting a meeting with Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube to update them on the progress made.

“If there is no progress, they would be playing with us. Izinduna must get their full salaries, not stipends,” Mthethwa said.

Mabaso declined to answer if a meeting was scheduled with izinduna.

Daily News

Related Topics: