Government

Big pay hikes for mayors, speakers and other government officials in South Africa

Luke Fraser

 ·20 Feb 2026

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Velenkosini Hlabisa, has adjusted the salary tables for South African mayors, speakers and mayoral executive council members.

In a gazette, Hlabisa changed the upper salary limits for top government officials. Government officials will earn 6.7% more, which is far above South Africa’s inflation target of 3%.

The national government does not determine salaries; the council does so as per its budget plans, but it can set limits on salaries and pay.

The salaries of these government officials are based on a points system, which considers the municipal income and population served by the municipality.

The total points obtained by adding these factors determine the municipal council’s grade. Officials’ salaries depend on the grade of their municipality.

For instance, a municipality with a population of fewer than 73,857 people will score only 8.33 points. A city with over 2.229 million people will have a score of 50.0.

A grade 6 municipality has a combined total of 83.36 points, while a level 1 municipality has a score of 16.66. The higher grade results in a higher salary for the positions.

A mayor of a grade 6 municipality will earn a salary of R1.65 million, compared to R1.23 million for those in grade 5. The lowest amount that a mayor can earn is R919 thousand, which applies to grade 1 mayors.

Speakers and Deputy Mayors can earn between R742,644 and R1,332,597, depending on the municipality’s grade.

MEC/MMC, Whips and Chairpersons of a Subcouncil can earn between R696,226 and R1,225,291. A Chairperson of a Section 79 or Section 79A Committee can earn between R675,804 and R1,218,468.

A host of perks

There are also a host of other perks available to councillors in local government, in addition to their large salaries.

• Motor Allowance: 

A councillor who uses their own privately used vehicle for official duties will be reimbursed for the official kilometres travelled.

• Out-of-pocket expenses:

A councillor may be reimbursed for reasonable and actual out-of-pocket expenses incurred during the execution of official or ceremonial duties on top of their official remuneration.

• Phone allowance

A councillor can receive a phone allowance of R3,600 per month in accordance with the applicable municipal council policy. The councillor may also receive an allowance for the use of data bundles not exceeding R317 per month.

• Special risk cover

The municipality must also take out risk insurance to cover the loss or damage to a councillor’s personal immovable or moveable property and assets, as well as life and disability cover, for any loss or damage caused by riot, civil unrest, strike or public disorder.

The special risk insurance for residential property is limited to R1.5 million, and for vehicles to R750,000. The life and disability cover is limited to two times the councillor’s total remuneration package.

Year-on-Year Increases

The changes to the full-time positions for local government officials are listed below. The remuneration increases are 6.7% across all positions.

Executive Mayor

Speaker, Executive Deputy Mayor or Deputy Mayor

Member of the Executive Mayoral Committee, Whip or Chairperson of a Subcouncil

Chairperson of Oversight Committee