South Africa’s public servants will cost the country an estimated R61 billion, thanks to a three-year deal to increase government wages.<\/p>\n
According to a Reuters report<\/a>, the figure was quoted by acting Public Service and Administration Minister Nathi Mthethwa.<\/p>\n In May, government agreed to a 7% wage increase for approximately 1.3 million public servants\u00a0– including nurses, teachers and police officers –\u00a0bringing the country’s wage bill paid from government coffers to as much as R470 billion.<\/p>\n The wage bill has increased over 80% in the past 10 years, and the annual increase has averaged more than 6% above inflation, Reuters said.<\/p>\n According to the report, government may look at\u00a0reducing the wage increase by 0.6%, which could result in the deal being scrapped, and massive strike action in the public sector.<\/p>\n This would put an already strained economy under even more pressure, counter to government’s attempts to curb spending and boost investment in the country.<\/p>\n Opposition party, the Democratic Alliance said recently that President Jacob Zuma can save the country billions by abolishing a third of government ministries.<\/p>\n Zuma presides over one of the most bloated Cabinets in the world with 35 ministers and 37 deputy ministers, which the DA said fosters a \u201cfertile ground for very costly ANC-style cadre deployment extravagance\u201d.<\/p>\n Sej Motau, DA shadow minister in the Presidency said: \u201cThe negative consequences of this ill-considered massive executive structure are there for all to see: an astronomical public service wage bill that grows every year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere is very little to show for this huge expenditure as productivity continues to deteriorate resulting in ever-increasing service delivery protests from angry, frustrated communities around the country,\u201d Motau said.<\/p>\n Last week, Parliament approved a salary increase for the president, adding R130,000 to his annual pay, totalling over R2.7 million.<\/p>\n In January, the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers recommended a 5% increase for all office bearers, including the president, deputy president, ministers, deputy ministers and members of parliament.<\/p>\n R500 billion wage bill for \u2018cadre deployment\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Scrap deputy ministers and save R355 million: DA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on wages in South Africa<\/h3>\n