Salary increases for MPs, Ministers, Deputies – how much they earn now

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved a 3% salary increase for government officials – himself and Deputy president David Mabuza included. The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers recommended the wage hikes and received a thumbs up from Ramaphosa.

The salary increases will be backdated to April last year and will apply to all categories of public office-bearers.

The move affects public office-bearers, including ministers and their deputies, premiers, MECs, MPs, MPLs, traditional leaders and judges. Ramaphosa now earns more than R3 million a year, while Mabuza pockets more than R2.91 million. Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers will earn R2.47 million and R2 million respectively, while Premiers will take home R2.3 million.

DA leader John Steenhuisen, as the leader of the official opposition, now earns just over R1.6 million, while EFF leader Julius Malema and other leaders of minority parties pocket nearly R1.4 million a year. National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula receives more than R2.9 million.

SALARY HIKES FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS, TOTAL REMUNERATION PACKAGES

In line with the public office bearers’ increases, their remuneration packages will be structured as follows:

• A basic salary component equal to 60% of the total package, which constitutes the pensionable salary.
• An amount of R120,000 per annum as per section 8(1)(d) of the Income Tax Act. This amount is included in the basic salary component.
• An employer’s pension benefit contribution equal to 22.5% of pensionable salary.
• A flexible portion for the remaining amount of the total remuneration.

But the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks isn’t happy with the increase. Speaking to CapeTalk, Parks has called out government for giving below-inflation increases for other public service workers.

“They [public officers bearers] have made the argument that inflation is eroding their salaries and eating into pensions. All of that is fair. But this is the very same politicians who imposed a wage freeze on nurses, teachers, police officers and other public service workers by giving them a below-inflation increase and who’ve been making a noise about the public service wage for many years. So if this was a problem, why are they giving themselves an increase?,” he said.