The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) rejects President Cyril
Ramaphosa’s decision to grant a 3.5% salary increase to members of the national
executive, Members of Parliament, provincial premiers, members of provincial
executive councils and provincial legislators.
We make an exception for the separate 4% increase for judges. The independence
and proper functioning of the judiciary are essential to our constitutional democracy.
That position cannot be used to justify increasing the pay of political office-bearers
while millions of people struggle to find work, put food on the table, and access basic
services.
This decision is indefensible in a country where, in the second quarter of 2026, 8.5
million people were officially unemployed and another 4.6 million formed part of the
potential labour force. That means 13.1 million people were unemployed or part of the
potential labour force. The broader unemployment measure, LU3, stood at 43.8%,
while the composite labour-underutilisation measure, LU4, was 46.3%. These figures
describe a catastrophe, not a labour market in which political leaders should be
rewarding themselves.
Poverty and inequality remain devastating. Stats SA found that 66.7% of the
population lived below the upper-bound poverty line in 2023. The 2026 upper-bound
poverty line is R2,962 per person per month, while the food poverty line is R868. Stats
SA recorded South Africa’s 2023 Gini coefficient at 0.635; the IMF describes the
country’s inequality as among the highest in the world.
The cost of living is crushing working-class households. In October 2026, the average
household food basket tracked by the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity
group cost R5,512.53. The average cost of feeding a child was R975.66. Families face
these costs while many workers earn low wages and millions have no income at all.
The government has steadfastly refused to introduce the R1,500 Basic Income Grant
demanded to provide meaningful support to unemployed people. Instead, it continues
to extend the R370 Social Relief of Distress grant.
About 7.8 million people had approved applications as at 31 March 2026. Treasury
estimates that between 3 million and 13 million more people could qualify if the court
ruling against parts of the grant regulations is upheld. The exact number excluded
specifically by the means test has not been established.
At R12.33 a day, the grant
cannot buy even one loaf of bread a day, let alone meet people’s other basic needs.
Government has also failed to provide targeted relief to households that depend on
illuminating paraffin. It cut the fuel levy on petrol and diesel, but has not introduced the
targeted paraffin subsidy SAFTU has repeatedly demanded. In November, the
maximum retail price of illuminating paraffin rose by a further R3.66 per litre. Officials
have said paraffin is already zero-rated and has no fuel levy, while considering other
forms of direct support; poor households are still waiting for that relief.
The state has failed too many people through unemployment, poverty, inequality,
deteriorating public services and corruption.
The Auditor-General reported R40.14
billion in municipal irregular expenditure in 2024/25. Irregular expenditure is not
automatically proof of corruption, but its scale points to persistent failures in
procurement controls and accountability. Public office-bearers should focus on fixing
these failures and recovering public resources, not accepting another increase.
The 3.5% decision is not an abstract percentage. Based on the current annual
remuneration packages, it adds R97,725 a year to a minister’s package and R46,304
a year to that of an ordinary MP or permanent NCOP delegate. That is approximately
R8,144 and R3,859 more per month, respectively, before tax and other deductions. A Deputy President or National Assembly Speaker receives an additional R114,972 a
year.
SAFTU calls on the President and Parliament to reverse the 3.5% increases for
political office-bearers. At a time when millions are unemployed, and households are
being pushed deeper into hardship, leadership must be measured by service to the
people, not by higher pay for those already entrusted with governing them.
A statement was issued on behalf of SAFTU by the General Secretary, Zwelinzima
Vavi.
For media inquiries, contact the National Spokesperson at
Newton Masuku
066 168 2157
Newtonm@saftu.org.za
Media Officer
Asive Dyani
0719019564
