Justin Pearce
Members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission received unexpected salary increases of 25% during July, only a few months after they started work.
The increase brought each commissioner’s pre-tax earnings to R28 750 per month — about R15 000 after tax.
But not all the commissioners are happy about the increases, and are planning to donate the extra money to other causes.
The increases came as a surprise to the commissioners and were only announced in the middle of July.
The commissioners have not yet discussed a united response to the salary increase. But there appears to be a difference in attitude between those commissioners who come from a non-governmental organisation background and are used to a more modest salary, and those who worked as professionals before being appointed to the commission.
Commission member Mary Burton, a trustee and former president of the Black Sash, said she had written to Minister of Justice Dullah Omar saying she did not want the increase.
“I don’t need it, and I don’t think it’s right to be paid such large salaries as there are such gaps in our society.”
Burton said she had requested the money be paid directly into the President’s Reparations Fund, which is intended to provide funds to implement the recommendations of the truth commission.
“If an investment is being made in the commission, it is logical that the money should be used in the same area,” Burton said.
Justice ministry representative Paul Setsetse said the commissioners had been granted the increases to keep their salaries in line with those of judges. The ministry was not aware of any requests for the money to be redirected, he said, but pointed out the commissioners were free to donate their salaries elsewhere as they chose.
But commissioners have pointed out it would be preferable for the money to be redirected before being paid as salaries and taxed.
Truth commissioner Richard Lyster said the increases were “inappropriate”, and he would request the ministry to reverse its decision on the salaries. If this could not be done, he would put the extra money into a charitable trust or the reparations fund.
John Allen, representative for TRC chair Desmond Tutu, said Tutu has, up to now, given half of his salary to bursaries for the children of Anglican clergy, and for students at the University of the Western Cape of which he is chancellor. He will continue to give half of his post-tax earnings to these causes. Tutu’s new salary will be around R30 000 before tax, or around R17 000 after tax.