IOL News reports that the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers has recommended a 4.1% salary increase for public office bearers for the 2025/2026 financial year.

The recommendation, published in a government gazette last week week, proposed increases at the highest levels of government. If approved, the President's annual salary would rise by about R137,000 to approximately R3.4 million. The Deputy President would receive an increase of just under R130,000, taking his earnings to around R3.1 million a year. Cabinet Ministers stand to benefit from an increase of about R110,000, pushing their annual pay to roughly R2.8 million. Deputy Ministers would earn more than R2.3 million per year. But, the announcement comes at a time when ordinary citizens face relentless financial pressure.

Against this backdrop, ActionSA has strongly condemned the proposed increases. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said the proposed salary increase was unacceptable and inappropriate because office bearers were delivering very little. “Nobody knows what deputy ministers do, including themselves,” he said. While the commission’s recommendation is not final and requires approval, it has once again highlighted the growing disconnect between the country’s political leadership and the harsh economic reality facing millions of South Africans.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kamogelo Moichela at IOL News
• Read too, Proposed salary hikes for officials at the highest levels of government shows 'no respect for South Africans', at IOL News

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