Ramaphosa Grants Huge Pay Rises To Politicians While Millions Of South Africans Suffer

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary increases of between 3.5% and 4% for public office-bearers for the 2026/27 financial year. The increases take effect from 1 April 2026 and follow recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers.

Members of the National Executive, including Cabinet ministers, will receive a 3.5% increase. The same adjustment applies to members of the National Assembly, permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces, premiers, members of provincial executive councils and members of provincial legislatures.

Judges of the Constitutional Court and other courts, as well as magistrates, will receive a 4% increase. The higher adjustment also applies to traditional leaders, members of the National and Provincial Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, and members of independent constitutional institutions.

The commission is constitutionally mandated to make annual recommendations on the salaries, allowances and benefits of public office-bearers. Its considerations included submissions from stakeholders, the duties and responsibilities attached to each position, inflation, wage settlements, previous recommendations and the government’s ability to afford the increases.

The Presidency said Ramaphosa considered the serious economic challenges facing the country when making his determination. The decision followed the commission’s recommendations, but the final increases differ by category of office-bearer.

The salary adjustment applies to public office-bearers rather than the entire public service. It should not be confused with a general wage increase for government employees, whose pay is negotiated through separate processes.

The announcement comes as government spending and the public-sector wage bill remain subjects of debate. The adjustment means higher annual remuneration for the listed office-holders, although the total fiscal cost will depend on the number of people in each affected category and their existing salary levels.

The Presidency did not set out the new rand amounts for each position in its announcement. Individual salaries vary according to office and may include allowances or benefits, so the percentage increase alone does not establish the precise new take-home pay of a particular minister, MP or judge.

Ramaphosa thanked the commission for its work and urged public office-bearers to fulfil their mandates and honour public trust. The commission’s recommendations are part of an annual process intended to assess remuneration across public offices, while considering economic conditions and the demands of the roles.

The approved increases cover national, provincial and judicial office-holders, alongside traditional leadership and constitutional institutions. The 3.5% adjustment applies to the executive and elected legislative categories, while the 4% rate covers judges, magistrates and the other specified groups. The increases are scheduled to apply from 1 April 2026.

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