The government role in South Africa that earns more than President Cyril Ramaphosa
South Africa’s Auditor-General earns nearly R6 million a year, significantly surpassing the president’s salary.
The Presidency has announced the approved salaries and allowances for various commissions, chairpersons, and councillors in South Africa, which includes an increase for the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA).
The Auditor-General will receive a salary of R5.9 million for the year, effective 1 April 2025, significantly higher than the budgeted maximum for President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In 2026, Members of Parliament approved an increase in the president’s salary from R3.3 million to just under R3.5 million, following an inflation-linked pay hike of 3.8%.
This salary increase for Ramaphosa was approved following a recommendation from the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, which initially proposed a 4.1% adjustment.
The Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) is the highest constitutional body responsible for auditing and reporting on how the government spends taxpayer funds.
The AGSA’s role is to ensure accountability by examining whether public entities manage their finances properly, comply with legislation, and produce credible performance reports.
The AGSA independently audits national and provincial departments, municipalities, and state-owned entities. It reports directly to the National Assembly and focuses on three main areas.
The AGSA ensures fair presentation and the absence of material misstatements by verifying that credible information is provided regarding intended goals.
It also ensures adherence to key financial and legal frameworks. After conducting audits, the AGSA assigns institutions one of five possible audit outcomes:
- Clean Audit: Financial statements are clean, free of misstatements, and all applicable rules were fully complied with.
- Unqualified with Findings: Financial statements are generally accurate, but there are minor issues with reporting or compliance.
- Qualified: The entity did not manage and account for finances properly, resulting in suboptimal outcomes.
- Adverse: There are widespread problems, with many rules and procedures not being followed.
- Disclaimer: Documentation is so poor that reliable evidence to support the financial statements could not be provided.
Other public salary increases
Earlier this year, the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) announced a 4% pay increase for public servants, effective April 1, 2026.
This increase applies to all employees at salary levels 1 to 12, as well as those covered by Occupation Specific Dispensations (OSDs). It is a pensionable salary increase for all qualifying staff.
DPSA Minister Mzamo Buthelezi stated that this increase serves as a cost-of-living adjustment for the 2026/27 fiscal year, in accordance with the 2025 resolution from the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC).
Although current inflation projections for the year are around 3.4%, the bargaining council’s agreement includes a mechanism that sets a floor and ceiling for salary increases, ranging from 4% to 6%.
This 4% increase follows a 5.5% increase implemented in 2025/26. The increase for the 2027/28 fiscal year is also based on the same CPI-projected rate as this year, with a limit of 4%-6%.
This directive specifically covers employees appointed under the Public Service Act of 1994.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently approved significant annual salary increases for the Public Service Commission (PSC) officials.
The chairperson will receive an increase of approximately R97,000, the deputy chairperson R94,100, and each commissioner R72,500 per year.
According to the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), PSC Chairperson Somadoda Fikeni will earn an annual salary of R2.52 million; his deputy, Zukiswa Mqolomba, will earn around R2.45 million; and the 11 commissioners will each earn nearly R1.9 million annually.
The DPSA stated that under the PSC Act, the authority to determine the remuneration and any conditions of service for the chairperson, deputy chairperson, and commissioners rests with President Ramaphosa.
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