Durban - Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala has raised the alarm about the spending by municipalities on security for councillors, revealing even small municipalities are spending millions on security.
Zikalala stressed that the security of councillors was very sensitive and required the utmost care, as it deals with the safety of public representatives and speaks to the allocation of public resources for this purpose.
He was speaking during the Speakers’ Forum on Tuesday, where direct engagements took place on high-level issues affecting the sphere of local government in the province.
“We are concerned with the situation that is currently developing within our municipalities, where some have a budget of R40 million for the provision of security. This is a matter that we continue to query with the relevant institutions, as we are of the view that security costs should not compromise service delivery,” he said.
He said some of the municipalities have a fraction of the number of councillors when compared to a major city like eThekwini, but have a security budget that is double that of eThekwini.
He said in the provision of this, some municipalities had not complied with the law, saying that there are 36 municipalities that have provided councillors with security personnel without first obtaining SAPS threat and risk analysis reports.
“As a matter of principle, the department encourages these municipalities to ensure that they get the SAPS threat and risk analysis reports for these councillors so that this expenditure can be regularised.
“As a department, we have met several times with the SAPS in the province to discuss the slow pace of issuing threat and risk analysis.
“One of the key issues raised by the police is severe capacity constraints for conducting these assessments,” he said.
He said the provision of bodyguards should be done in compliance with the law which dictates that:
* Mayors and Speakers are entitled to two bodyguards (per shift)
* Deviation from the norm may only be based on the recommendations of the SAPS
* Any other councillor, subject to a threat and risk analysis conducted by the SAPS