South Africa’s public office-bearers, including the president, ministers, and members of parliament, are set to receive a recommended salary increase of 4.1% for the 2025/26 financial year.
The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers proposed the hike, which is above the current inflation rate. The increase would raise the total salary bill for approximately 20,587 officials from R13.077 billion to R13.613 billion—an added R530 million.
Notable recommended annual salaries include:
– President: R3,486,061 (up R137,300)
– Deputy President: R3,294,404 (up R129,750)
– Minister: R2,800,225 (up R110,288)
– Member of Parliament: R1,326,792 (up R52,256)
The commission cited lower-than-projected inflation and the recent 5.5% public sector wage agreement as factors in its decision. It acknowledged that the increase adds pressure to the national budget but noted that the public wage bill as a share of total spending has decreased over the past decade.
The proposal has drawn criticism from trade unions and some political parties, who argue the raises are out of touch amid widespread service delivery challenges.
The government has also proposed reactivating early retirement without penalties to help manage public-sector employment costs. The recommendations will now go to the president for approval.
The tables below outline the recommended salaries for Ramaphosa and the other state officials.
National Executive
| Position | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| President | R3,348,761 | R3,486,061 | +R137,300 |
| Deputy President | R3,164,654 | R3,294,404 | +R129,750 |
| Minister | R2,689,937 | R2,800,225 | +R110,288 |
| Deputy Minister | R2,215,220 | R2,306,044 | +R90,824 |
Members of Parliament
| Position | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speaker: NA | R3,164,654 | R3,294,404 | +R129,750 |
| Chair: NCOP | R3,164,654 | R3,294,404 | +R129,750 |
| Deputy Speaker: NA | R2,215,220 | R2,306,044 | +R90,824 |
| Deputy Chair: NCOP | R2,215,220 | R2,306,044 | +RR90,824 |
| House Chair | R2,108,472 | R2,194,919 | +R86,447 |
| Chief Whip: Majority Party | R1,792,595 | R1,866,092 | +R73,497 |
| Chief Whip: NCOP | R1,792,595 | R1,866,092 | +R73,497 |
| Parliamentary Councillor: President | R1,792,595 | R1,866,092 | +R73,497 |
| Parliamentary Councillor: Deputy President | R1,792,595 | R1,866,092 | +R73,497 |
| Leader of the Opposition | R1,792,595 | R1,866,092 | +R73,497 |
| Chair of a Committee | R1,675,314 | R1,744,002 | +R68,688 |
| Deputy Chief Whip: Majority Party | R1,507,841 | R1,569,662 | +R61,821 |
| Chief Whip: Largest Miniority Party | R1,507,841 | R1,569,662 | +R61,821 |
| Leader of Minority PArty | R1,507,841 | R1,569,662 | +R61,821 |
| Whip | R1,399,201 | R1,456,568 | +R57,367 |
| Member: NA | R1,274,536 | R1,326,792 | +R52,256 |
| Permanent Delegate: NCOP | R1,274,536 | R1,326,792 | +R52,256 |
Provincial Executive
| Position | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier | R2,531,760 | R2,635,562 | +R103,802 |
| MEC | R2,215,220 | R2,306,044 | +R90,824 |
| Speaker | R2,215,220 | R2,306,044 | +R90,824 |
| Deputy Speaker | R1,792,595 | R1,866,092 | +R73,497 |
| Chief Whip: Majority | R1,675,314 | R1,744,002 | +R68,688 |
| Chair of Committee | R1,507,844 | R1,569,666 | +R61,822 |
| Leader of the Opposition | R1,507,844 | R1,569,666 | +R61,822 |
| Deputy Chair of Committee | R1,418,612 | R1,476,775 | +R58,163 |
| Deputy Chief Whip: Majority | R1,418,612 | R1,476,775 | +R58,163 |
| Chief Whip: Largest Minority | R1,418,612 | R1,476,775 | +R58,163 |
| Leader of Minority | R1,418,612 | R1,476,775 | +R58,163 |
| Parliamentary Councillor to a King/Queen | R1,274,536 | R1,326,792 | +R52,256 |
| Whip | R1,274,536 | R1,326,792 | +R52,256 |
| Member of Provincial Legislature | R1,233,560 | R1,284,135 | +R50,575 |
Local Government
| Position | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Mayor | R1,532,264 | R1,595,087 | +R62,823 |
| Mayor | R1,532,264 | R1,595,087 | +R62,823 |
| Deputy Executive Mayor | R1,237,484 | R1,288,221 | +R50,737 |
| Speaker/Chair | R1,237,484 | R1,288,221 | +R50,737 |
| Deputy Mayor | R1,237,484 | R1,288,221 | +R50,737 |
| MEC | R1,165,692 | R1,213,486 | +R47,794 |
| MMC | R1,165,692 | R1,213,486 | +R47,794 |
| Chairperson of Sub-council | R1,165,692 | R1,213,486 | +R47,794 |
| Whip | R1,165,692 | R1,213,486 | +R47,794 |
| Municipal Councillor | R686,752 | R714,909 | +R28,157 |
Judges
| Position | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice | R3,243,771 | R3,376,765 | +R132,994 |
| Deputy Chief Justice | R2,919,317 | R3,039,009 | +R119,692 |
| President: Supreme Court of Appeal | R2,919,317 | R3,039,009 | +R119,692 |
| Deputy President: SCA | R2,757,186 | R2,870,230 | +R113,044 |
| Judge: Constituional Court | R2,595,054 | R2,701,451 | +R106,397 |
| Judge: SCA | R2,595,054 | R2,701,451 | +R106,397 |
| Judge President: High/Labour Court | R2,432,922 | R2,532,672 | +R99,750 |
| Deputy Judge President: High/Labour Court | R2,270,601 | R2,363,696 | +R93,095 |
| Judge: High/Labour Court | R2,108,470 | R2,194,917 | +R86,447 |
Magistrates
| Position | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Grade Chief Magistrate | R1,689,981 | R1,759,270 | +R62,289 |
| Regional Court President | R1,689,981 | R1,759,270 | +R62,289 |
| Regional Magistrate | R1,516,364 | R1,578,535 | +R62,171 |
| Chief Magistrate | R1,516,364 | R1,578,535 | +R62,171 |
| Senior Magistrate | R1,256,919 | R1,308,453 | +R51,534 |
| Magistrate | R1,161,674 | R1,209,303 | +R47,629 |
Traditional Leaders
| Position | 2024 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| King/Queen | R1,388,764 | R1,445,704 | +R56,940 |
| Principal Traditional Leader | R1,277,668 | R1,330,052 | +R52,384 |
| Senior Traditional Leader | R303,467 | R315,909 | +R12,442 |
| Headman/woman | R130,394 | R135,740 | +R5,346 |