Marianne Merten
Cape Town councillor Una Pick, under police investigation for her role in the Cape Town street-renaming fiasco, has been promoted.
The Democratic Alliance councillor now heads one of the unicity’s 16 sub-councils at an annual package of R388829, including allowances. This is equivalent to the salary of an executive committee member and almost double the R142687 package of an ordinary councillor.
Pick was one of eight sub-council chairpersons chosen by the New National Party caucus, which met separately from the Democratic Party at the end of last month.
On September 21 Western Cape MEC for Local Government Pierre Uys asked provincial police to investigate possible fraud charges against her. Police confirm a docket has been opened, but said that no one has been charged.
Former judge Willem Heath found Pick and another DA councillor, Bonita Jacobs, could be guilty of fraud for their role in collecting signatures in favour of the renaming of two Cape Town streets.
On legal advice Uys did not refer the matter to the council for action. It appears this has cleared the way for Pick to continue her duties, as the council’s rules committee did not consider her role in the street-renaming debacle last week.
The sub-councils came into being on October 1 as new political structures of the metropole, to provide services like water and electricity. Their role is to bring government and service delivery closer to communities by dealing with, among other things, building plans, licensing and land-use management.
Meanwhile, documents in possession of the Mail & Guardian show the executive committee in August approved an annual package for city manager Robert Maydon of R989500, with a minimum annual R140000 performance bonus.
Last month it emerged that Cape Town mayor Peter Marais earns R444980 a year, including allowances. This is higher than the income of DA leader Tony Leon.