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Today the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Nasiphi Moya, refused to answer a question tabled in the municipal council on the overpayment of historical salaries paid to senior officials.

The rules and orders of Tshwane's municipal council are clear. If a councillor directs questions to the mayor on notice, those questions must be answered. Questions to the mayor is an essential accountability mechanism.

In the 2019/20 financial year certain ex gratia payments were made to senior officials following a violent, protected strike. The payments had enormous financial implications for the city, including its ability to pay subsequent salary increases.

The question I asked, which was contained in the council agenda, related to whether some of these officials were overpaid, and whether they have reached repayment agreements with the city. At the time, Moya was the mayor's chief of staff.

Instead of answering the question in terms of the rules, the mayor said that she first needs a legal opinion to determine whether she is obliged to answer the question.

The mayor talks a big game about holding officials to account, but she fails the test of credibility when she is called to account. If the mayor fails to answer the question, the DA will bring an application in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

Issued by Ald Cilliers Brink - DA Tshwane Caucus Leader