No increase for Public Office Bearers earning above R1 Million MyZA

President Jacob Zuma has decided the remuneration increases for Public Office Bearers for the 2013/14 financial year.

In a statement, the Presidency said that after consideration of the recommendations of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, Zuma had decided that the remuneration of public office bearers for the 2013/14 financial year will increase by 5%.

The 5% increase is effective from 1 April 2013, the start of the 2013/14 financial year.

As Zuma earns more than R1 000 000 he will not take any salary increase.

The Presidency said Zuma had taken the decision after considering the recommendations of the commission, the affordability of the different levels of remuneration, the present social and economic context and the level of inflation and its impact on the buying power of the incomes of public office bearers.

The commission had recommended the following annual adjustment to the salaries of all public office bearers:

Those with a total remuneration package below R500 000 to get a 7% increase
Those with a total remuneration package between R500 000 – R 800 000 to get a 5% increase
Those with a total remuneration package between R800 000 – R1 000 000 to get a 4% increase
And those with a total remuneration package above R1 000 000 would not get an increase.

The recommendation of the commission for an increase based on a sliding scale requires careful study during the coming year, said the Presidency, to ascertain its financial implications for national, provincial and local governments as well as the financial position of certain categories of public office bearers, including the retirement benefits of judicial officers.

The President determines the salaries and allowances of the public office bearers in terms of sections 3 to 6 of the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act.

Public office bearers are the President, Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) as well as the leadership structures of the two houses, Premiers and MECs, members of the provincial legislature and their associated leadership structures, mayors and councillors, judges and magistrates and traditional leaders.

“The President would like to take this opportunity to thank the commission for its work,” said the Presidency. – SAnews.gov.za