The approval of salary increases for top politicians, including ministers and their deputies, as well as parliamentarians, has been described as a clear demonstration that the government is out of touch with the realities on the ground. 

This is according to analysts and experts, who said this is an indication that the government doesn’t care about the sufferings of the citizens. 

This comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he approved a 3.8% pay increase for ministers, deputy ministers, and parliamentarians.

The increases are set to take effect on April 1, 2026.

These increases are slightly lower than the 4.1% suggested by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.  

However, provincial legislators will still receive the full 4.1%. This also applies to judges, magistrates, traditional leaders, and independent constitutional institutions. 

Under the new changes, the deputy president now earns R3.28 million, an increase of R120,000. Ministers now earn R2.79m, which is R102,000 more. Members of Parliament who are backbenchers now earn R1.32m, an increase of R48,000. Members of executive councils now earn over R2.3m, up by R90,000. 

Premiers’ salaries will surge from R2.53m to R2.64m, up by R104,000, and MECs from R2.22m to R2.31m (up R91,000).

The new salaries arrive as South Africa faces major challenges such as extreme unemployment, poverty, and inequality, alongside critical infrastructure issues like energy shortages and failing logistics, exacerbated by systemic corruption and poor governance. 

Other key problems are rising cost of living, pervasive crime and violence, strains on public health and education, and the need for effective climate action, all contributing to social instability and hindering inclusive economic growth. 

Political analyst Zakhele Ndlovu said this demonstrates how leaders are out of touch with the realities, adding that the money should have been used to improve infrastructure, especially the railways, which provide cheaper transport for the working class.

Ndlovu added that the money could also be used to create job opportunities. 

Another analyst, Professor Andre Thomashausen, said South Africa only comes first with negative records, adding that rewarding an “incompetent” ministerial team with salary increases highlights that the government system has failed. 

Over 25 million South Africans, about 40% of the population, depend on social grants, with recent 2025 data from Stats SA showing 25.4m individuals relying on them.

The country’s poverty stats also show persistent challenges, with projections around 63.5% to 68% of the population living in poverty.  

Unemployment, meanwhile, stood at 32%. 

Professor Andre Duvenhage said this shows that the ANC is slowly becoming a traditional party, adding that there are political motives behind the decision to increase salaries.

He said this has to do with the upcoming local government elections, as politicians want something for their votes. 

Duvenhage added that the decision is unjustifiable. 

“You must read it within a strategic context,” he said, adding that the office bearers will have to perform to justify the increases.

Duvenhage said that, due to various national crises, including the economy, it would be a viable option to take voluntary salary cuts to promote economic growth. 

“We are already overpaying within the civil service, and in return, we are not getting much. We are overpaying and instead of doing the job, they hand out contracts for other people to do the job,” he said. 

Governance expert and political analyst, Sandile Swana, said that the standard of living of the average South Africans, particularly the Black majority, is in reverse gear due to economic challenges, the elites believe in inequality and that they belong to a different species from the citizens. 

“They need to enjoy the lavishness under all circumstances, and South Africa is an animal farm. All the elites want to be equal among themselves but never equal to us – the citizens,” said Swana, who added that the performance of the Government of National Unity (GNU) and Ramaphosa’s administration so far has been disastrous – both economically and financially for the citizens.

Swana said the government is dismal, adding it has not been able to meet the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP). 

He said only a few municipalities are stable and others are dysfunctional and distressed, while the defence force is less than 30% capability in terms of the airforce and navy.

“The schools are in a state of disaster. Our schools, especially in Black communities, are a total catastrophe,”  he said, adding that to claim that there is a performance or inflation-related increase is to ignore the facts.

ActionSA also opposed the increases, calling them inappropriate given the country’s economic hardship. The party is pushing for the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill to abolish deputy ministers and cut perks. 

NEHAWU, COSATU, and SAFTU also condemned this decision. 

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za

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