By Thabi Shomolekae.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary increases for public office bearers for the 2026/2027 financial year, a move that the Presidency said balanced official recommendations with the nation’s economic constraints.
The decision, announced on Tuesday by presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya implements a 3.5% pay raise for political representatives and a 4% increase for the judiciary and traditional leaders.
He said the increase of 3.5% applies directly to political office bearers.
This includes Members of the National Executive (the President, Deputy President, and Ministers), Members of the National Assembly, and Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
At a local and regional level, it covers Premiers, members of provincial executive councils, and members of provincial legislatures.
Magwenya said the President has also determined a 4% salary increment for judges of the Constitutional Court, judges of other courts, and magistrates.
Traditional leaders and members of the National and Provincial Houses of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders, will also receive a 4% adjustment.
The President’s determination follows extensive statutory consultations with the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.
Magwenya noted that the Commission arrived at its final recommendations by analysing stakeholder inputs and the specific roles, duties, and responsibilities tied to each office.
Crucially, the decision-making process weighed heavy economic variables against the State’s budget.
The Commission and the President evaluated national fiscal affordability, historic inflation and future inflation forecasts, market wage settlement data and previous remuneration trends and average annual wage increments.
Ramaphosa expressed his gratitude to the Commission for its “diligence, thorough scrutiny, and balanced approach” in drafting the recommendations during a tough economic climate. The President appealed to all public office bearers to remain dedicated to their mandates.