Ramaphosa urged not to sign pay increase for political office bearers

Cosatu has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa not to sign a recommended increase for public office bearers which would see him receive a 4% salary raise.

Cosatu’s central executive committee has called on the president to refuse to sign a recommendation by the Independent Commission for Remuneration of Public Office Bearers that all politicians and public office bearers be given a 4% salary hike.

“This is unacceptable when millions of South Africans are facing a Black Christmas,” the labour federation said in a statement on Thursday.

“Many families are struggling with the cost of living‚ thousands are losing their jobs every day and the economy is on its knees because of the decisions of the political office bearers.”

If the increase is authorised, ministers‚ members of the judiciary‚ mayors and traditional leaders‚ among others, will all receive a 4% salary increase.

This would take Ramaphosa’s salary from R2‚989‚845 to R3‚109‚439 a year.

The commission recommendation is for the 2018/2019 financial year and‚ if approved‚ would have to be back-paid from April.

These pending increases are expected to put a strain on the already struggling fiscus at a time when the government has complained about an unsustainable public-sector wage bill of more than R587bn.

Cosatu called for a national strike in February to protest against increasing retrenchments and joblessness. – TimesLIVE