Marion Edmunds
The Steyn Commission on remuneration of representatives has recommended an 8% real increase on the total package for MPs and members of the Senate, bringing their total annual package to R239 642 from R221 861.
Members of the provincial legislatures will have their packages increased by 2% and President Nelson Mandela will have his increased by 14%, taking it to R545 920, under the recommendations. Cabinet members are to get 12% increases.
Chief Whip Arnold Stofile gets a 21% increase, while deputy chairman of the constitutional assembly Leon Wessels will get a 22% increase.
National Party leader FW de Klerk has reason to smile. He is to be paid at the level of deputy minister, along with provincial MECs, speakers of the provincial legislatures and the deputy speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Kgositsile.
The commission recommends their salaries jump 12% to R344 100.
In a media statement released on Thursday, the commission said: “We have relied very significantly on professional advice in determining the structure of retirement benefits [pensions], grading, wage curves and levels of remuneration.
“In the end, however, the commission itself had to determine what a reasonable and fair reward was for the responsibility entrusted and the workload assumed.”
The commission said it had taken the approach of a “total package” so that remuneration could not be obscured by a variety of allowances.
It also recommended new disciplinary provisions, stricter enforcement of these provisions, and an annual review of packages. It suggested the fine for absenteeism from Parliament should go up to R500 a day from R100.
The commission also said it was not deflected from its task by giving weight to perceptions that a gravy train ran through Parliament.