Yes, contracted specialist/technical writers can get R3-4/word, although some op-ed writers don't get paid - it's like a letter to the editor (I don't know DM's arrangements). I'm not saying Ivo doesn't write well - he does, but he regularly dredges up tired and unconvincing themes.  
Generally, whether they're paid or not, some of these pieces on DM shouldn't have been accepted because either the premise or argument is weak or writing not particularly good, like the one about toilets yesterday. But they do because, as you say, they're confrontational - the more divisive the better. We've stopped buying daily and weekend papers incl the Sunday Times because the content and quality has gone (perhaps Afrikaans papers are still worthwhile). So I'm left with online websites including a couple of reputable foreign ones. We all have our hobbyhorses - I do too - which gets jaded. But if it's your paying job at least present a compelling article/case and not quack science and alt-facts.