/ 6 December 2016

Zuma won’t get a salary hike in 2017

In this week's Mail & Guardian
In this week's Mail & Guardian

President Jacob Zuma has agreed to a recommendation that a number of bearers of public office, including himself, not be paid a salary increase for the 2016-2017 year.

Earlier this year, the National Assembly approved a salary increase for Zuma of R2.87-million a year, despite criticism from opposition parties. 

But the president accepted the recommendation by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, which also said that the following public officials would not receive an increase:

  • All members of the executive (the president, deputy president, ministers and deputy ministers),
  • All members of Parliament,
  • All members of the provincial executive and legislature,
  • All judges,
  • Officials in local government, from executive mayors to whips,
  • Traditional leaders, from kings and queens to the full-time deputy chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders

A 4% cost-of-living increase was recommended for municipal councillors, while a 6% recommendation was made for magistrates and full-time members of the National House of Traditional Leaders and the Provincial House of Traditional Healers.

Salary increases for public officials have to be signed off by Zuma.