{"id":848200,"date":"2026-01-19T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T10:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=848200"},"modified":"2026-01-19T12:42:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T10:42:35","slug":"ramaphosa-approves-salary-increases-for-south-africas-millionaire-ministers-and-mps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/848200\/ramaphosa-approves-salary-increases-for-south-africas-millionaire-ministers-and-mps\/","title":{"rendered":"Ramaphosa approves R100,000 salary increase for South Africa’s millionaire ministers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved a 3.8% salary increase for South Africa’s top politicians, including ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentarians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The approval of the above-inflation pay hike comes following the recommendation from the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers in December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The commission had recommended an increase of 4.1% for politicians, but the final, approved rate was 0.3 percentage points lower at 3.8% for the National Executive and Parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the approved rates for the Provincial Legislature were in line with the 4.1% recommendation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In determining its recommendation of a 4.1% increase, the commission noted the steep decline in inflation last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial projections were for the figure to average 4.5% at the beginning of the year, but this dropped to 3.5% by the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It conducted a series of interviews and surveys among financial institutions and researchers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It said it was of the view “that the realistic base range for inflation forecast for 2025\/2026 should be between 3.5% and 4.5%.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The approved 3.8% increase still falls within that range and exceeds inflation, but is lower than the public service wage agreement, which saw public servants’ wages hiked by 5.5% from April 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past decade, the government wage bill has decreased as a share of consolidated spending, falling from 35.7% in 2013\/14 to 32.1% in 2023\/24.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 2027\/28, the wage bill is projected to decrease to 31.4% of consolidated spending; however, this still remains a massive budget item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notably, while Ramaphosa is the one to sign off and approve the increases for top officials, his salary is approved by parliament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers also recommended that the president get a 4.1% increase, but the final approval will be up to MPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The president’s salary is currently R3.35 million and will increase to R3.5 million is the commission’s recommendation is approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tables below outline the approved increases:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

National Executive [+3.8%]<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Position<\/th>2024<\/th>2025
(Approved)<\/th>		2024\/2025
Change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
President<\/td>R3,348,761<\/td>TBD<\/td>TBD<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy President<\/td>R3,164,654<\/td>R3,284,911<\/td>+R120,257<\/td><\/tr>
Minister<\/td>R2,689,937<\/td>R2,792,155<\/td>+R102,758<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy Minister<\/td>R2,215,220<\/td>R2,299,398<\/td>+R84,178<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Members of Parliament [+3.8%]<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Position<\/th>2024<\/th>2025
(Approved)<\/th>		2024\/2025
Change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Speaker: NA<\/td>R3,164,654<\/td>R3,284,911<\/td>+R120,257<\/td><\/tr>
Chair: NCOP<\/td>R3,164,654<\/td>R3,284,911<\/td>+R120,257<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy Speaker: NA<\/td>R2,215,220<\/td>R2,299,398<\/td>+R84,178<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy Chair: NCOP<\/td>R2,215,220<\/td>R2,299,398<\/td>+R84,178<\/td><\/tr>
House Chair<\/td>R2,108,472<\/td>R2,188,594<\/td>+R84,178<\/td><\/tr>
Chief Whip: Majority Party<\/td>R1,792,595<\/td>R1,860,714<\/td>+R67,579<\/td><\/tr>
Chief Whip: NCOP<\/td>R1,792,595<\/td>R1,860,714<\/td>+R67,579<\/td><\/tr>
Parliamentary Councillor: President<\/td>R1,792,595<\/td>R1,860,714<\/td>+R67,579<\/td><\/tr>
Parliamentary Councillor: Deputy President<\/td>R1,792,595<\/td>R1,860,714<\/td>+R67,579<\/td><\/tr>
Leader of the Opposition<\/td>R1,792,595<\/td>R1,860,714<\/td>+R67,579<\/td><\/tr>
Chair of a Committee<\/td>R1,675,314<\/td>R1,738,976<\/td>+R63,662<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy Chief Whip: Majority Party<\/td>R1,507,841<\/td>R1,565,139<\/td>+R57,298<\/td><\/tr>
Chief Whip: Largest Miniority Party<\/td>R1,507,841<\/td>R1,565,139<\/td>+R57,298<\/td><\/tr>
Leader of Minority Party<\/td>R1,507,841<\/td>R1,565,139<\/td>+R57,298<\/td><\/tr>
Whip<\/td>R1,399,201<\/td>R1,452,371<\/td>+R53,170<\/td><\/tr>
Member: NA<\/td>R1,274,536<\/td>R1,322,968<\/td>+R48,432<\/td><\/tr>
Permanent Delegate: NCOP<\/td>R1,274,536<\/td>R1,322,968<\/td>+R48,432<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Provincial Executive [+4.1%]<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Position<\/th>2024<\/th>2025
(Approved)<\/th>		Change<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Premier<\/td>R2,531,760<\/td>R2,635,562<\/td>+R103,802<\/td><\/tr>
MEC<\/td>R2,215,220<\/td>R2,306,044<\/td>+R90,824<\/td><\/tr>
Speaker<\/td>R2,215,220<\/td>R2,306,044<\/td>+R90,824<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy Speaker<\/td>R1,792,595<\/td>R1,866,092<\/td>+R73,497<\/td><\/tr>
Chief Whip: Majority<\/td>R1,675,314<\/td>R1,744,002<\/td>+R68,688<\/td><\/tr>
Chair of Committee<\/td>R1,507,844<\/td>R1,569,666<\/td>+R61,822<\/td><\/tr>
Leader of the Opposition<\/td>R1,507,844<\/td>R1,569,666<\/td>+R61,822<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy Chair of Committee<\/td>R1,418,612<\/td>R1,476,775<\/td>+R58,163<\/td><\/tr>
Deputy Chief Whip: Majority<\/td>R1,418,612<\/td>R1,476,775<\/td>+R58,163<\/td><\/tr>
Chief Whip: Largest Minority<\/td>R1,418,612<\/td>R1,476,775<\/td>+R58,163<\/td><\/tr>
Leader of Minority<\/td>R1,418,612<\/td>R1,476,775<\/td>+R58,163<\/td><\/tr>
Parliamentary Councillor to a King\/Queen<\/td>R1,274,536<\/td>R1,326,792<\/td>+R52,256<\/td><\/tr>
Whip<\/td>R1,274,536<\/td>R1,326,792<\/td>+R52,256<\/td><\/tr>
Member of Provincial Legislature<\/td>R1,233,560<\/td>R1,284,135<\/td>+R50,575<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n