EFF leader Julius Malema has angered some councilors who
expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to dock 33% of their salaries to
contribute to the fight against coronavirus.
Some EFF councillors in Limpopo who are opposed to the move
said the gesture by the party leadership will set them back financially and
effectively make them poor.
In WhatsApp messages, which Sowetan has seen, the
councillors said the party was drying up their salaries as they were also made
to "buy bakkies" for the red berets.
The councillors asked for their names to be witheld for
fear of reprisal.
Malema announced last week that the party had decided to
contribute 33% of all its public representative salaries to the government's
Solidarity Fund for the next three months.
This affects the party's members of parliament, provincial
legislature and its 827 councillors in 221 municipal councils.
But a group of EFF councillors from a local municipality in
Limpopo are revolting against the decision, saying they were not consulted before
an announcement was made publicly.
In the WhatsApp messages, some of them said they would be
raising their concerns with the party as they believe "this matter must be
debated" as they were not consulted.
"It's going to be rough, you see this guy [Malema]
wants us to pay to his account for three months," said one councillor.
Another councillor wrote, "just imagine you go home
with a net salary of R12,000 then deduction of R8,000 for [the] bakkie then you
[are] left with R4,000 for other deductions [and then] you [are] left with
nothing."
Another message read: "R4,000 then car must also be
paid? Other deductions [as well] then is a crs [serious] disaster. I don't know
even how much is gonna be. Many councillors are crying, calling me. I can't do
anything".
The EFF councillors in the local municipality in question
said they earn a gross salary of around R25,000. They said the move will drag
them into poverty.
According to one of the councillors who spoke on condition
of anonymity, a R2,500 party levy that they usually pay has been put on hold.
He said life would be more difficult to take care of their families.
"I'm already paying for a bakkie for 6k [R6,000] which
is a must have and that 33% is going to finish me. I'm going to be left with
nothing. My gross is R25k and take home is about R10k now that 33% is going to
take over R7k," said the councillor.
The councillor added that he received lots of calls from
the concerned councillors who became aware of the amount they have to pay for
three months.
"Councillors are not refusing to contribute, but the
percentage is too high for us. If you raise this issue you will be told it is
not our money," he said.
Sowetan understands that the decision was made by the
party's war council which meets at least once a week after which it was
communicated to municipalities.
A letter dated April 10, which Sowetan has seen, sent by
the party's treasurer Omphile Maotwe to speakers in municipalities, directs
that the monthly party levy be suspended and replaced with the 33% contribution
for the next three months.
According to the letter, contribution would be deducted
from the gross salaries of councillors by the municipalities and sent to an
already existing party levy bank account.
"These monies will then be collected and deposited by
the EFF into the Soli-darity Fund as a lump sum at the end of each month. This
directive is effective immediately and will last for the next three (3)
months," the letter reads. Sowetan
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