The Executive Mayor of Johannesburg, Cllr. Geoffrey Makhubo, has noted reports and allegations by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on the conversion of employment status of employees in the Political Offices.
The Executive Mayor also acknowledges Councillior Leahs Knott’s letter raising concerns on the conversion of the employment status of employees in Political offices and therefore seeks to clarify the following:
• The conversion takes place after a well thought out process, including consideration of the remuneration-revenue ratio, relevant policies of the city, decided case law, duties and responsibilities of the employees and their levels of influence on decisions of the City.
The conversion was also done to redress the challenge of displaced employees within the administration.
• The process is intended to provide institutional stability and continuation
• Contrary to what the DA has falsely claimed, employees above level 5, that is, from deputy directors and up, are not affected by the conversion. The intended beneficiaries are junior staff levels with no managerial duties. Some of those who will benefit from the conversions include those who were employed during and by the previous (DA-led) administration.
• Some of the employees who were contracted during the DA-led government voluntarily left the service of the city after the change of administration in 2019. Those who were employed during the DA tenure and remained after its end, will also benefit from the conversion provided they are below the threshold.
• The conversion has no extra financial implications on the city as these are not new posts but a conversion of already existing and budgeted posts into permanent contracts.
• It is therefore, incorrect and politically disingenuous for the DA to insinuate that these are political appointments.
END.
For Media Enquiries
Mlimandlela Ndamase
Director: Mayoral Communications
MlimandlelaN@joburg.org.za
083 480 0014
