Please find soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Marina van Zyl MP
16 municipalities have failed to pay R1.79 billion in municipal worker pension arrears.
Sadly, this is very likely the tip of the iceberg. South Africans, we now need your help. If you are a municipal worker whose pensions have not been paid, please send this information to DAoversight@da.org.za. Please tell us which municipality this is and, with documentary evidence, for how long this has been happening.
The 16 municipalities we know, having been listed to Parliament are:
• Free State: Letsemeng, Kopanong, Mohokare, Masilonyana, Tokologo, Nketoana, Ngwathe and Mafube
• North West: Tswaing, Ditsobotla, Naledi and Mamusa
• Northern Cape: Renosterberg, Thembelihle and Kai !Garib
• Eastern Cape: Inxuba Yethemba
This list includes municipalities where their municipal managers are already facing criminal charges laid by the DA over failures in municipal financial reporting and repeated disclaimed audits, better known as the Terrible Ten.
Kopanong reportedly owes R378 million and Mafube R267 million. The Free State and North West hold almost 80% of arrears.
This is not a cash-flow problem; it is the worker’s own money. Behind every rand is a cleaner, clerk, or maintenance worker who will retire with less. Those responsible for this crisis must be held accountable.
The law is clear: Section 173 of the MFMA states that a municipal manager is guilty of a criminal offence if they deliberately, or in a grossly negligent manner contravene or fail to comply with Section 62(2)(f). This section states that municipal managers must ensure that a municipality complies with pension, medical aid, and other statutory commitments.
The DA will probe which of these municipal managers acted with gross negligence, and pursue criminal charges where appropriate. In addition, the DA will ask the National Treasury to table each municipality’s arrears by fund, and push for additional Parliamentary oversight.
Withholding pension contributions which have been deducted from workers’ salaries punishes municipal employees and families. Accountability must land on those who sign the payroll and choose not to pay.