Msunduzi municipality in KwaZulu-Natal has recovered R2-million from workers owing it money by docking their salaries, the Witness website reported on Tuesday.
It said the hefty deductions were made last Friday when employees received their annual 13th cheques.
The action had angered workers who anticipated a bank balance bulging from their bonus, only to find that they had but a few hundred rands extra.
Some told The Witness the deductions had been made without prior warning.
The municipality said all of its 3 500 employees were sent a circular beforehand.
Employees were asked to settle all arrears at 90 days and more with the municipality for unpaid rent, rates and municipal services, or to make arrangements to start paying.
The request went largely unheeded and it became necessary to deduct the arrears from their salaries at source, said Smanga Sethene, manager in the office of the city manager.
The Weekend Witness revealed on Saturday that Msunduzi municipality was owed millions of rands in arrears for council-house rentals and unpaid rates and services bills.
Sethene said a small amount was deducted from employees’ salaries last month as the first of three instalments.
This was followed by much larger amounts this month because of the 13th-cheque payments. Next month, a third instalment will be taken.
Municipal employees will receive the same treatment from the municipality as ordinary ratepayers, he said.
”There is no exception to the rule. What applies to the public applies to our employees as well.” — Sapa