PAUL KIRK, Johannesburg | Friday
THE CEO of a cash-strapped NGO has allegedly allotted himself a salary package of more than R500000 a year – for only two days work a week.
This week the chair of the Kokstad branch of the South African National Tuberculosis Association (Santa) and executive committee member of Santa KwaZulu-Natal, John Budge, expressed outrage at the remuneration package of the national CEO, Dr Andrew Ratsela.
Ratsela’s salary is not reflected in Santa financial statements obtained this week. However, according to Budge, Ratsela, who still runs his own medical practice and only gives two days a week to Santa, is paid R400000 a year, receives a car allowance of roughly R10000 a month, has a petrol card paid for by Santa and also has a Santa credit card for “incidental” and “sundry” expenses to the tune of R50000 every year.
Santa, the largest and oldest NGO involved in fighting tuberculosis, operates 22 tuberculosis hospitals but is under increasing financial strain due to the impact of HIV/Aids. Tuberculosis is one of the most common manifestations of HIV infection in South Africa.
In the first quarter of 2000 the association spent R1,3m more than in the same period last year. This increase in expenditure has started to erode the R12m dedicated, interest-bearing fund kept by Santa. The interest from this fund is used to finance operations by the association.
While Santa does receive a grant from the government, the organisation relies almost entirely on donations and volunteers who provide unpaid services.
Said Budge: “At the request of several other volunteers I raised this issue at the recent AGM and never got an answer to what should have been a simple question.”
Budge maintains that, because Santa is funded by donations and taxpayers’ money, the public and the office bearers of the association have a right to know what the CEO is paid.
Ratsela refused to make any comment on his remuneration package. “I have taken legal advice on this matter and my lawyer has told me I should not make any comment,” he said.