The Stellenbosch Municipality is using part of its Mayoral Fund to aid organisations that will assist local residents during lockdown. This was according to Stuart Grobbelaar, Stellenbosch Municipality’s communications manager.
“When you make the contribution to the fund, you can specify that it should go for Covid relief. Covid relief at this stage, would be to support the organisations and NGOs [non-governmental organisations] in town that are currently working to support the families and communities in need,” said Grobbelaar. An organisation primarily benefiting from the fund is Stellenbosch Unite.
According to a message by mayor Gesie van Deventer on the Stellenbosch Municipality website, the Mayoral Fund was established in line with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). According to the MFMA, it is used as a relief or charitable trust within the community.
“[The Mayoral Fund] is managed by the municipal manager and chief financial officer of the Stellenbosch Municipality and audited by the Auditor General of South Africa,” said Grobbelaar.
Councillors to also donate to fund
Stellenbosch councillors attend a virtual special council meeting, via Microsoft Teams. PHOTO: Twitter/ @StellMun
Meanwhile, during a special virtual council meeting held by Stellenbosch Municipality councillors on 27 May, municipal manager, Geraldine Mettler and executive mayor Gesie van Deventer brought a vote to council which gave council members the option to donate their expected 4% salary increases for April, May and June to the Mayoral Fund.
The vote was in line with a recommendation from the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) in April, according to Grobbelaar.
“Councillors are able to contribute whatever they feel they can – this can thus be more than the 4% increase or less – it is entirely up to each individual councillor,” said Grobbelaar.
Majority in favour of donating
Out of the 33 councillors present, 31 voted in support of the item. This included Gaynore Cele, Stellenbosch Municipality representative of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP).
“I voted in support of it, because although many political parties and public officers have already made donations, if anyone wants to make any further donations over and above that, they should have the right or ability to do that,” Cele told MatieMedia.
Stellenbosch municipality councillor, Gaynore Cele, agrees that council members should have the option to donate their salary increases.
Councillor Derrick Hendrickse of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) voted against the item.
“[EFF] public representatives have paid one-third of our gross salary towards [our party], to be paid into the national Covid-19 fund,” Hendrickse said to MatieMedia. Amongst other concerns, Hendrickse cited alleged secrecy and a lack of transparency by the municipality as the reason for his vote.
At this point it is not clear which councillors will be donating to the Mayoral Fund, however, councillor Franklin Adams of the Democratic New Civic Association (DNCA) stated in the meeting that he will not be donating to the mayoral fund.
“I am not in support of this item, I will use my contribution at my own discretion in consultation with my party,” said Adams, who abstained from the vote.