IOL writes that SA is ranked as the world’s most unequal society and this is no more evident when one gasps at the wage gap between ordinary citizens, politicians and top business executives.

A report by Statistics SA has highlighted that the top 10% of the country's earners take home more than half of all wage income, while the bottom 50% earn less than 8%. This disparity is further exacerbated by gender, with women earning, on average, 30% less than their male counterparts. The disparities in South African salaries have once again come under the spotlight, as recent data reveals a widening chasm between the country's top executives, politicians, and the average citizen. The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Thembi Nkadimeng recently announced revised salary scales for mayors, speakers, and mayoral executive council members. On a national level, President Cyril Ramaphosa approved a 3% salary increase for all public office bearers for the 2022/23 period. Stats SA's Quarterly Employment Survey for Q1 2023 showed that the average monthly salary in SA was R25,304. The vast disparities in earnings between SA’s top executives, politicians, and the average citizen are stark. The median salary for politicians is roughly 4.7 times the average salary of a regular South African. The median salary for business executives is a staggering 353 times the average salary of a regular South African. While, the social grant for the elderly is only about 8% of the average South African's salary.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Lee Rondganger at IOL

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