KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Municipal Council has resolved to pay its acting municipal manager (AMM), Dawid Adonis, an allowance of 5% on top of his salary and also back pay him the 5% for the time he has been serving as acting director for the Human Settlements Department and AMM since July last year.
In his address to Council last Thursday, Knysna Mayor Elrick van Aswegen said that R1,3-million has thus far been paid to former MM Dr Sitembele Vatala, R480 000 to an interim acting municipal manager, Dr Michelle Gratz, and R770 000 to another Acting MM, Louis Scheepers.
Vatala has been on a full salary since his suspension in 12 February last year. On Tuesday, Knysna United chair Ralph Stander said the municipality is wasting taxpayers' money by paying two municipal managers. "If it was their money they
would not have done this. Council should be held accountable for their actions and
the money should be taken out of their salaries," he said.
No allowance received
In a letter from Adonis, read to Council by Van Aswegen in last Thursday's meeting, Adonis said he has never received any allowance in his capacity as an acting official in these positions. He started as Acting Director for the Human Settlements department in July until October 2020 and this was extended from October to January this year.
"In December, I was appointed as the AMM until March 2021 and my appointment was extended until September this year. In all my time and positions as an acting official I have never received any allowance for this. I have decided not to proceed with my duties as the AMM as from March 15, 2021 if the matter is not addressed. I will continue with my work as the manager for parks," Adonis said.
Legal
Explaining to Council in a special council meeting on Thursday, the municipality's legal advisor Melony Paulsen said, "The salaries [for the two positions, AMM and MM] are the same, he will also be given a 5% for the acting allowance. In this case the 5% should be paid to Adonis as he acted and was not remunerated for his acting," she said.
Van Aswegen said when they look at the previous AMMs, the municipality spent R2,5-million in the positions combined with the salary of Vatala since his suspension.
"We were fortunate to have Adonis to act in that position. I see no point why he will not be remunerated accordingly. Council should give me powers to negotiate with Adonis for the benefit of the municipality," he said.
Van Aswegen said Adonis will be paid the 5% acting allowance from now on as well as the 5% back pay for the time he was acting in the two positions.
Saving
Councillor Monwabisi Salaze said the issue should have been dealt with a long time ago. "Adonis has done a great job for us. We must take a decision and instruct the administration to pay Adonis his allowance starting from the first month he started acting in the municipality.
"We can't allow a situation where a person will work without getting paid for his work," he said.
Councillor Lavael Davis said there is a massive saving looking at the amount Adonis will get and what an outside AMM will receive. "Let's rectify this," he said.
DA Councillor Sharon Sabbagh said Adonis has been doing an excellent job and he should be paid his acting allowance. "Taking an acting municipal manager from outside will cost us R103 000 a month, but having Adonis costs us less than R3 000 a month," she said.
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