# The cash-strapped Amahlathi Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape has requested more time from the South African Municipal Workers Union. This is to raise money to be able to pay workers’ birthday bonuses as stipulated in their contracts. The municipality now needs 6.7-million-rand to pay 295 employees the bonus. The municipality says they cannot afford to pay the bonuses on top of the monthly salary bill of 11-million-rand, however, it will negotiate a solution.