Pretoria - The City of Tshwane may have paid out more than R4.7 million as a result of nine senior officials having been on suspension for the past six months.
The cost being incurred during the current financial year is not public at this stage as annual financial statements have not yet been finalised.
But, an estimate has been calculated based on salaries for the last financial year and including the cost of paying stand-in appointees who, in terms of council policy, earn an extra 10 percent of the salary of the person in whose position they are acting.
Group chief financial officer Andile Dyakala, strategic executive directors Tshilidzi Nemahagala, Tom Mutshidza and Pheko Letlonkane; executive directors Bongiwe Zwedala, Kagiso Leepile, Tswelopele Maabane, Dayalan Pillay and supply chain management functional head Bukosi Zweni have been on suspension for periods between four and six months.
City of Tshwane spokesman Selby Bokaba said there was a commitment to finalise the cases of the suspended officials. ”We respect the labour rights of the suspended officials. All the cases are under way. We hope to conclude them as soon as practically possible. They (the officials) are equally keen to see their cases finalised.”
Bokaba said the suspended officials should be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. He gave the assurance that the suspensions had not affected service delivery in the city.
“There are people acting in those positions, and they are performing their duties with distinction,” he said.
South African Municipal Workers Union’s Tshwane regional secretary Mpho Tladinyane said it was commendable that the employer had taken action on allegations of wrongdoing. Officials remained innocent unless disciplinary processes showed otherwise, and they were entitled to their salaries during the process.
Pretoria News