Zuma announces salary increases for public office-bearers

President Jacob Zuma has announced salary increases for public office-bearers‚ ahead of the Budget being presented to Parliament by the Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan this afternoon.

His office said in a statement he had decided on reduced‚ below inflation increases for 2015/16‚ the outgoing financial year.

The president had based his decision on the recommendation of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers “and the condition of the economic climate‚ which has deteriorated”‚ the presidency said.

The increases are:

- 4.4% for all public office bearers except Magistrates and certain category of the traditional leaders.

- 5.5% from the position of the Special Grade Chief Magistrate to the position of the Chief Magistrate.

- 6% from the position of the Senior Magistrate to the position of the Magistrate.

- 4.4% for a position of a King / Queen.

- 6% from a position of the Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders to a position of a Full-time member of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders.

- 8% for a position of a Senior Traditional Leader.

- R91 000 for Headmen/Headwomen.

Headmen also received a pay hike in June 2015 when provinces were told to find an additional R100-million a year to pay traditional leaders. This was because President Zuma standardised the salaries of the country’s more than 5‚000 headmen and head women at an annual flat salary of R84‚125 then.

Magistrates currently earn at least R788‚000 a year.

In today’s statement‚ Zuma’s office said the commission had recommended increases of:

-5% for Members of the Executive and Deputy Ministers;

-5% for Members of Parliament;

-5% for Premiers‚ MECs and Members of the Provincial Legislatures;

-5% from the position of the Chief Justice to the position of the Judge of the Supreme Court of Appeal;

-5.5 % from the position of the Judge President of High Court / Labour Court to position of the Judge of the High Court/Labour Court;

-5.5% from the position of the Special Grade Chief Magistrate to the position of the Chief Magistrate;

-6% from the position of the Senior Magistrate to the position of the Magistrate;

-5.5% for a position of a King/Queen;

-6% from the position of the Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders to the position of a Full-time member of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders;

-8% for the position of a Senior Traditional Leader and

-R91‚0000 for the Headmen/Headwomen.

The determination for 2016/17 has not yet been made by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.

The salary of the President is determined by Parliament.