COSATU rejects salary hike for politicians and judiciary

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has slammed what it views as a generous salary increase for politicians and the judiciary; however, it supports the benefit to magistrates.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has opted for a 3.8% increase for his executive and parliamentarians and 4.1% for the judiciary.

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But COSATU said the salary bump to ministers, which translates to roughly R100,000 more per year, is an ill-considered message and out of touch with the lived realities of ordinary South Africans.

The Presidency said Ramaphosa decided on the 3.8% increase for politicians based on the recommendations of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers.

This includes their role, status and duties, remuneration of public office bearers and inflation.

But COSATU’s parliamentary coordinator, Matthew Parks, said the decision is shameful, considering Cabinet wanted to hike the value-added tax (VAT) rate in 2025 to fulfil its constitutional mandate.

“It defies logic that two months after the minister of finance warned that further tax hikes may be a necessity in 2026, that government has found an additional R536 million to fund the salaries of politicians, commissioners and judges.”

Parks said it’s an even greater affront that the salary hikes include over 9,000 councillors when most municipalities are on the brink of collapse.

“If government has spare funds, it must hire doctors, nurses, police officers and other front-line workers needed to provide essential services to working-class communities of the economy.”

COSATU wants the Remuneration Commission to subject its proposals to public comment before submitting them to the president for approval.