Public servants wage increase to cost taxpayers R61 billion

A new three-year deal to increase wages for South Africa’s public servants will cost the country 61 billion rand ($4.84 billion), the acting Public Service and Administration Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Monday.

The government agreed last month to a 7% wage hike in the first year, and to increase housing and medical aid pay, but is now looking to pay 0.6% less.

We have rejected the increment because there is no improvement whatsoever in the work Zuma does for this country instead he is a fiscus burden on the South African purse, said the Economic Freedom Fighters EFF).

This comes after 203 Members of Parliament voted for the motion to increase President Zuma’s annual salary from R2.62 million to an estimated R2.7 million; making him the fourth highest paid president in the world.

EFFs Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said that President Zuma continues to be a burden on the South African purse and that his salary increase does not make sense.

“We have rejected the increment because there is no improvement whatsoever in the work Zuma does for this country instead he is a fiscus burden on the South African purse,” said Ndlozi.

Ndlozi said that the salary is not justified because taxpayers are already paying a lot towards his life.

“Taxpayers are already paying for his three residents, transport, bodyguards and his wives.”

According to the Sunday Times it costs South Africans R54.6-million to support the president's four wives.

Presidential Spousal Support Unit for Zuma's wives rose to an average of R10.9million a year from that of R7.1million during former Thabo Mbeki's term.