Ramaphosa Approves Salary Increases: 5 Key Facts About the 2026 Pay Rise for South African Politicians
Ramaphosa has approved salary increases of 3.5% to 4% for public office-bearers. Discover who qualifies and why COSATU is unhappy.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary increases of between 3.5% and 4% for South Africa’s public office-bearers for the 2026/27 financial year. The decision has triggered criticism from trade unions, particularly over the increase for politicians while millions of South Africans face unemployment and rising living costs. The increases are backdated to 1 April 2026. They cover national and provincial political representatives, judges, magistrates, traditional leaders and members of certain independent constitutional institutions
1. Politicians will receive a 3.5% salary increase
The 3.5% adjustment applies to members of the National Executive, including the President, Deputy President and ministers. It also covers Members of the National Assembly and permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces. At provincial level, premiers, members of provincial executive councils and provincial legislators are included. This means the adjustment reaches political office-bearers across national and provincial government.
The increase is effective from 1 April 2026, meaning eligible recipients will receive the adjustment retrospectively for the months already covered by the financial year. The Presidency did not publish individual revised salary figures in its announcement. The percentage should therefore not be confused with a specific rand amount for every minister or MP, because salaries differ according to position. South African Government+2
2. Judges and magistrates will receive a 4% increase
The higher adjustment of 4% applies to judges of the Constitutional Court, judges serving in other courts and magistrates. Members of independent constitutional institutions are also included in the 4% category. These institutions play important roles in South Africa’s constitutional and democratic system, including oversight, accountability and the protection of rights. The Presidency said the decision followed recommendations from the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers.
The commission considers factors such as the responsibilities attached to different positions, fiscal affordability, inflation forecasts and wage settlement data. The distinction between the two percentages is important: not everyone covered by the announcement receives the same adjustment. South African Government+2
3. Traditional leaders are also included
The 4% increase also applies to traditional leaders and members of the National and Provincial Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders. These structures form part of South Africa’s recognised traditional leadership system. Their inclusion means the decision extends beyond politicians working in Parliament and provincial legislatures.
The commission’s recommendations cover different categories of public office-bearers, taking into account their responsibilities and the legal framework governing their remuneration. The announcement does not mean that every person employed in government or every public servant automatically receives the same increase. Ordinary public service employees are subject to separate salary arrangements and collective bargaining processes. South African Government+2
4. COSATU and NEHAWU have criticised the decision
The announcement has attracted criticism from organised labour. COSATU argued that the 3.5% increase for politicians remains excessive, particularly given unemployment, pressure on household budgets and problems with municipal service delivery. The federation also raised concern about the additional R536 million it says will be required to fund salaries for politicians, commissioners and judges.
It argued that available public money should be directed towards essential services and frontline workers, including doctors, nurses, teachers and police officers. NEHAWU also condemned the decision, describing it as insensitive to the conditions experienced by ordinary workers and poor households. The union pointed to understaffing, frozen vacancies and budget constraints affecting public institutions.
These are the unions’ criticisms of the decision. The Presidency, meanwhile, has maintained that the determination followed the commission’s recommendations and consideration of the country’s economic circumstances. Mail & Guardian+2
5. The increases are backdated to April 2026
Another important detail is that the new salary adjustments do not begin in November. They are effective from 1 April 2026, at the beginning of the 2026/27 financial year. This means the increases are retrospective. The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers initially recommended a 4% adjustment across the categories it considered.
Ramaphosa ultimately approved 3.5% for political representatives and 4% for judges, magistrates, traditional leaders and other specified office-bearers. The commission considers several factors when making recommendations, including stakeholder submissions, the responsibilities of each position, inflation, wage settlements and the affordability of increases within the national budget. The President’s determination is the final decision announced for these categories for the current financial year
Why the announcement has become a public debate
The timing of the decision has added to the public discussion. South Africa continues to face serious economic challenges, including unemployment, poverty and pressure on public services. Stats SA reported an official unemployment rate of 33.7% for the third quarter of 2026, with approximately 8.6 million people actively unemployed.
Against that background, the adjustment has raised questions about public spending, political accountability and how government priorities should be balanced. The debate also involves a distinction between the commission’s constitutional role in recommending remuneration and the President’s responsibility for making the final determination. Ultimately, the salary increases have been approved, but the criticism from labour organisations shows that the decision has not settled public concerns about fairness and the use of taxpayers’ money.