A salary increase for politicians is out of touch with reality and tone-deaf: Organisations slam Ramaphosa’s 3.5% hike

By Mapaballo Borotho

4 November 2026 declared a public holiday ahead of Local Government Elections — Image: @CyrilRamaphosa on X

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary increases of between 3.5% and 4% for public office-bearers, including ministers, MPs, judges and magistrates.
COSATU and NEHAWU have criticised the increases, describing them as excessive and insensitive to the economic struggles facing ordinary South Africans.
Ministers will earn R2.89 million annually, while MPs’ salaries will increase to R1.37 million.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary increases for South Africa’s public office-bearers, including ministers, premiers and members of Parliament.

The increases range from 3.5% to 4%, depending on the position and responsibilities of each office-bearer.

The 3.5% adjustment applies to members of the National Executive, members of the National Assembly, permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces, premiers, members of provincial executive councils and members of provincial legislatures.

Meanwhile, judges of the Constitutional Court and other courts, as well as magistrates, will receive a 4% salary increase.

The decision follows recommendations by the Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers and the President’s own considerations, taking into account “the serious economic challenges facing the country”.

The approved increases for the 2026/2027 financial year are slightly lower than the 4.1% adjustment public office-bearers received in the previous year and the 5.5% increase granted the year before.

However, the latest approval has drawn criticism from civil society organisations and trade unions, with concerns that the increases are out of touch with the economic realities facing ordinary South Africans.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says it is deeply dismayed by the salary adjustments for political office-bearers.

“Whilst COSATU is irritated by this generous increase for politicians, we do support the 4% adjustment for Magistrates given that they are a skilled profession and measures are needed to retain them and avoid a brain drain upon an already overwhelmed judicial system,” said COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks.

Parks said the increase for public representatives remains excessive and sends an ill-considered message to an increasingly frustrated public.

He added that it reflects a political elite that is dangerously out of touch with the lived realities of ordinary South Africans.

“It defies logic that at a time when the state does not have money to fulfil many of its constitutional mandates, government has endorsed this tone-deaf proposal,” he said.

Meanwhile, the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU) has also criticised the decision, describing it as unprincipled and insensitive to the harsh socio-economic realities confronting the majority of South Africans, particularly the working class.

The union said the country continues to grapple with high unemployment, poverty, inequality and the rising cost of living.

It added that approving the salary increases sends a deeply troubling message about the priorities of those entrusted with public leadership.

How much will public office-bearers earn?

The approved adjustments mean that ministers will receive an annual salary of R2,898,233, up from R2,800,225 in the 2025/2026 financial year.

Premiers will earn R2,727,807 annually, while members of Parliament will receive R1,373,230.

The salary adjustments also apply to members of the judiciary and traditional leaders, with judges, magistrates and traditional leaders receiving a 4% increase.

See the full salary breakdown below:

Table supplied by Business Tech

National Executive (3.5%)

Position	2025/2026	2026/2027	Change
Minister	R2,800,225	R2,898,233	R98,008
Deputy Minister	R2,306,044	R2,386,756	R80,712

Members of Parliament (3.5%)*

Position	2025/2026	2026/2027	Change
Speaker: NA	R3,294,404	R3,409,708	R115,304
Chair: NCOP	R3,294,404	R3,409,708	R115,304
Deputy Speaker: NA	R2,306,044	R2,386,756	R80,712
Deputy Chair: NCOP	R2,306,044	R2,386,756	R80,712
House Chair	R2,194,919	R2,271,741	R76,822
Chief Whip: Majority Party	R1,866,092	R1,931,405	R65,313
Chief Whip: NCOP	R1,866,092	R1,931,405	R65,313
Parliamentary Councillor: President	R1,866,092	R1,931,405	R65,313
Parliamentary Councillor: Deputy President	R1,866,092	R1,931,405	R65,313
Leader of the Opposition	R1,866,092	R1,931,405	R65,313
Chair of a Committee	R1,744,002	R1,805,042	R61,040
Deputy Chief Whip: Majority Party	R1,569,662	R1,624,600	R54,938
Chief Whip: Largest Minority Party	R1,569,662	R1,624,600	R54,938
Leader of Minority Party	R1,569,662	R1,624,600	R54,938
Whip	R1,456,568	R1,507,548	R50,980
Member: National Assembly	R1,326,792	R1,373,230	R46,438
Permanent Delegate: NCOP	R1,326,792	R1,373,230	R46,438

Provincial Executive (3.5%)*

Position	2025/2026	2026/2027	Change
Premier	R2,635,562	R2,727,807	R92,245
MEC	R2,306,044	R2,386,756	R80,712
Speaker	R2,306,044	R2,386,756	R80,712
Deputy Speaker	R1,866,092	R1,931,405	R65,313
Chief Whip: Majority	R1,744,002	R1,805,042	R61,040
Chair of Committee	R1,569,666	R1,624,604	R54,938
Leader of the Opposition	R1,569,666	R1,624,604	R54,938
Deputy Chair of Committee	R1,476,775	R1,528,462	R51,687
Deputy Chief Whip: Majority	R1,476,775	R1,528,462	R51,687
Chief Whip: Largest Minority	R1,476,775	R1,528,462	R51,687
Leader of Minority	R1,476,775	R1,528,462	R51,687
Parliamentary Councillor to a King/Queen	R1,326,792	R1,373,230	R46,438
Whip	R1,326,792	R1,373,230	R46,438
Member of Provincial Legislature	R1,284,135	R1,329,080	R44,945

Judges (4%)

Position	2025/2026	2026/2027	Change
Chief Justice	R3,376,765	R3,511,836	R135,071
Deputy Chief Justice	R3,039,009	R3,160,569	R121,560
President: Supreme Court of Appeal	R3,039,009	R3,160,569	R121,560
Deputy President: SCA	R2,870,230	R2,985,039	R114,809
Judge: Constitutional Court	R2,701,451	R2,809,509	R108,058
Judge: SCA	R2,701,451	R2,809,509	R108,058
Judge President: High/Labour Court	R2,532,672	R2,633,979	R101,307
Deputy Judge President: High/Labour Court	R2,363,696	R2,458,244	R94,548
Judge: High/Labour Court	R2,194,917	R2,282,714	R87,797

Magistrates (4%)

Position	2025/2026	2026/2027	Change
Special Grade Chief Magistrate	R1,759,270	R1,829,641	R70,371
Regional Court President	R1,759,270	R1,829,641	R70,371
Regional Magistrate	R1,578,535	R1,641,676	R63,141
Chief Magistrate	R1,578,535	R1,641,676	R63,141
Senior Magistrate	R1,308,453	R1,360,791	R52,338
Magistrate	R1,209,303	R1,257,675	R48,372

Traditional Leaders (4%)

Position	2025/2026	2026/2027	Change
King/Queen	R1,445,704	R1,503,532	R57,828
Principal Traditional Leader	R1,330,052	R1,383,254	R53,202
Senior Traditional Leader	R315,909	R328,545	R12,636
Headman/woman	R135,740	R141,170	R5,430