Overview
- The commission’s proposal for 2025/26 would lift the President’s pay by about R137,000 to roughly R3.4 million, with the Deputy President near R3.1 million, Cabinet Ministers around R2.8 million, and Deputy Ministers above R2.3 million.
- ActionSA condemned the plan and cited its Private Members’ Bill to abolish Deputy Ministers, arguing the posts deliver little value to taxpayers.
- Critics framed the suggested increases against widespread financial strain, citing hunger, high household debt, and reliance on informal lending.
- Some analysts said the adjustments are defensible relative to private‑sector pay, while cautioning about low earnings for frontline public servants and weak service delivery.
- Civil groups highlighted trade‑offs, noting the annual increase for deputy ministers alone could cover dozens of SASSA Old‑Age Grants, and some outlets questioned the timing of the late‑year publication.