Salary increases for South African millionaire politicians approved

The South African government has approved salary increases for senior public office‑bearers, including ministers, deputy ministers and members of Parliament.

Under the decision, the pay of ministers and their deputies will rise by about 3.8 %, while other office‑bearers see increases of up to 4.1%, effective from April 2025. This translates into annual salaries of roughly R3.2 million for the deputy president and R2.7 million for ministers, with MPs and provincial legislators receiving smaller but still substantial adjustments. The president’s own salary increase remains subject to parliamentary approval.

The approval has ignited public and institutional opposition, particularly against the backdrop of economic strain and widespread hardship. The Congress of South African Trade Unions say the move as tone‑deaf and out of step with the pressures on ordinary workers, noting that the increase comes at a time when broader wage demands and fiscal austerity are hotly contested.

Medical and civic organisations have similarly criticised the timing, arguing that funds would be better directed towards frontline services such as healthcare and education rather than augmenting already high political salaries.

What many people fail to recognize is that South Africa is a highly centralized state. It was artificially created in 1910 around the extraction of resources, not just from the land, but from people. Today, it is defined by corruption and decay. With decision-making concentrated far from local communities, there is no real accountability. We should therefore not be surprised by the foolish and immoral choices the South African government or their non-profit buddies make.