Zuma approves salary increases

Cabinet, judiciary, MPs reap rewards

President Jacob Zuma has approved proposed salary hikes for public office bearers including members of the cabinet‚ the judiciary‚ MPs and councillors.

Heads of government‚ ministers and their deputies‚ judges and MPs will receive a 4% salary increase as per recommendations set out by the Independent Commission for Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.

Zuma’s salary of about R2.8million will increase to almost R3-million‚ while the increases for cabinet members amount to close to R100 000.

The increases have been criticised by labour unions who encouraged government leaders to exercise the same austerity measures they advocate by declining wage hikes in light of the country’s dire economic difficulties.

Zuma’s approval also comes in the midst of public-sector wage negotiations‚ which have already hit obstacles after government negotiators failed to table a counter-offer to workers.

Public servants are demanding a 12% increment for the lowest paid workers‚ 11% for midlevel and 10% for senior levels.

“President Jacob Zuma has accepted the commission’s recommendations for all categories of public office bearers‚ except for the magistrates,” the Presidency said.

Magistrates’ salaries‚ which will increase by 5.5%‚ are approved by parliament. Other proposals Zuma approved were that MPLs‚ kings and queens would receive 4.5% wage hikes‚ while traditional leaders would get 8%.