“Don’t Forget Kickbacks”: Local Ward Councillor’s Monthly Salary Breakdown Stuns Mzansi

• Popular content creator Boni Xaba posted a breakdown of a South African ward councillor's monthly payslip on Facebook
• The payslip reflects a basic salary of R17,537.69 alongside a R3,400 cellphone allowance and a R5,845.90 car allowance
• After deductions like PAYE and pension, the councillor's net pay came to R18,522.68 per month

A detailed breakdown of a South African ward councillor’s monthly earnings sparked wide discussion online after being shared by Facebook creator Boni Xaba on 17 October 2026. In the clip, Xaba analysed a 2025 payslip belonging to a councillor serving in a non-metropolitan municipality who was elected in 2021. She noted that ward councillors in metro municipalities typically earn higher rates.

Breakdown of local ward councillor’s payslip garners attention

The breakdown showed a basic monthly salary of R17,537.69, supplemented by a R3,400 cellphone allowance and a R5,845.90 car allowance, bringing total gross earnings to R26,783.59. Total deductions amounted to R8,260.91—which included R2,473.38 in PAYE tax, a R438.44 party levy, and R5,042.09 toward pension, leaving a final net pay of R18,522.68.

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Watch Boni Xaba break down the ward councillor's salary in the Facebook reel below:

Mzansi reacts to local public servant's monthly earnings

The post drew numerous comments from social media users who shared their thoughts on local government compensation and allowances.

@Sandile Xolani Mpanza commented:

"But they drive Land Cruisers ukuthi kanjani asazi (how, we don't know)."

@Arshad Cassim noted:

"Car allowance is more than double a teacher's housing allowance."

@Mahlatse Nawi Mohlape wrote:

"Don't forget kickbacks, monies formerly known as cold drink."

@Siphamandla Jali added:

"Being a councillor has benefits of corruption; they get a lot of money on top of that salary."

@Lusanda Lusey Mbali asked:

"They kill each other for R18k net, and a five-year contract?"

@Polaki Mahlase said:

"Municipalities don't pay the same; it depends on the grading of the municipality."

Other salary-related articles

• Boni Xaba shared the payslip of a Zimbabwean network support technician with nearly a decade of experience, revealing a net pay of approximately R26,000.
• A salary breakdown revealing that specialised informal waste pickers targeting high-value items can earn up to R28,000 a month left South Africans divided and comparing their earnings to formal-sector jobs.
• Briefly News reported that a local tech professional's payslip showed a staggering R42,000 monthly tax deduction on an R128,000 salary, disturbing Mzansi social media users.

Source: Briefly News