This shows how Grant Easton, Knysna’s Municipal Manager, is being paid more than is permitted by law. I estimate that over-payment at approximately R150 000 the past year.

Knysna Municipality said to Parliament:

[Knysna] Municipality, at the time of appointment of Mr. Easton, was a Category 4 municipality, Mr Easton was paid in accordance with the total remuneration package, maximum okus an additional 9% market premium allowance. Such an allowance was provided for in the now amended upper limit notice.

Susan Campbell responded:

The 9% market premium allowance paid to Mr. Easton was illegal as Mr. Lubbe, who was a suitable candidate, was prepared to work for the prescribed salary. A market premium may only be paid in circumstances when suitable candidates cannot be found who are prepared to work for the prescribed salary. The relevant legal provisions are included hereunder:

No. 225 29 March 2014

LOCAL GOVERNMENT: MUNICIPAL SYSTEMS ACT, 2000
(ACT NO. 32 OF 2000)

UPPER LIMIT OF TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGE PAYABLE TO MUNICIPAL MANAGERS AND MANAGERS DIRECTLY ACCOUNTABLE TO MUNICIPAL MANAGERS

Payment of market premium allowance:
10. (1) The payment of a market premium allowance is aimed at attracting and retaining suitably qualified and competent senior managers into municipalities where the approved pay range is not sufficient to attract and retain such.

(2) Where a municipality finds it difficult to attract suitably qualified and competent candidates to fill a position of a senior manager such municipality may offer and pay a market premium allowance to a suitably qualified and competent person.

Read more in Part 4 wherein it’s shown that Grant Easton lacked the proper qualification to become a CFO. Furthermore, Knysna Municipality and the Democratic Alliance misled Parliament about it.