Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised salary increases of 3.5% and 4% for different categories of public office-bearers, including ministers, premiers, MPs and judges.
Announcing the pay hike, the Presidency said in a statement on Tuesday 10 November 2026 that President Ramaphosa acted on recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers.
President Ramaphosa also considered serious economic challenges facing the country.
“The increase of 3.5% applies to Members of the National Executive, Members of the National Assembly and Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces, Premiers, members of provincial executive councils and members of provincial legislatures,” said Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson to the President.
“The President has also determined a 4% salary increment for judges of the Constitutional Court, judges of other courts, and magistrates.
“A 4% increase also applies to traditional leaders, members of the National and Provincial Houses of traditional and Khoi-San leaders.
“The members of independent constitutional institutions also receive a 4% increase determination.”
President Ramaphosa thanked the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers for its “diligence and careful scrutiny” in preparing its recommendations.
In arriving at its decision on salary hikes, the commission considered, among others, the following factors:
- comments and inputs from stakeholders;
- the role, status, duties, functions and responsibilities of the public office bearers concerned;
- economic variables including fiscal affordability, historic inflation, future inflation forecasts, wage settlement data, the Commission’s prior recommendations;
- the President’s determination for the previous financial year, and
- average annual wage increments.
President Ramaphosa urged public office-bearers to uphold their mandates and honour the public trust and expectations associated with their varied responsibilities.
