Government

Ramaphosa hikes salaries for government’s millionaire ministers and MPs

Staff Writer

 ·10 Nov 2026

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved pay increases for South Africa’s public office-bearers of 3.5% to 4%, depending on position.

The decision follows recommendations from the Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers and the President’s own considerations.

The decision took into account “the President’s consideration of serious economic challenges facing the country.”

The presidency said the following factors were considered by the remuneration commission, among others:

• Comments and inputs from stakeholders.
• The roles, status, duties, functions, and responsibilities of the public office-bearers concerned.
• Economic variables including fiscal affordability, historic inflation, future inflation forecasts, wage settlement data, and the Commission’s prior recommendations.
• The President’s determination for the previous financial year.
• Average annual wage increments.

The Commission also previously said its decision was based on inflation forecasts for 2026

The ultimate decision was to increase public officials’ salaries by 3.5% and 4%, with each increase applying to different roles.

“President Ramaphosa has in turn decided to increase the salary of public office-bearers by 3.5% and 4% in different categories,” the presidency said.

The 3.5% increase applies to members of the National Executive, National Assembly, and permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces.

The lower increase will also apply to premiers, provincial executive council members and members of provincial legislatures.

The 4% increase is earmarked for judges and magistrates in the Constitutional Court and other courts in South Africa.

It will also be given to traditional leaders and members of both national and provincial houses of traditional and Khoi-San leaders.

The 2026/2027 increase is slightly lower than the 4.1% increase public officials received the previous year and the 5.5% increase the year prior.

Salary increases for different government positions

The tables below outline the salary increases based on the wages earned by government officials in the previous year.

National Executive (3.5%)

Members of Parliament (3.5%)*

Provincial Executive (3.5%)*

Judges (4%)

Magistrates (4%)

Traditional Leaders (4%)