Ramaphosa sets 3.5% to 4% pay rises for public office-bearers
Ministers, MPs and premiers get 3.5%, while judges, magistrates and traditional leaders get 4%, backdated to the start of the 2026/27 financial year.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved new pay increases for people who hold public office, with the rises ranging from 3.5% to 4%. According to SAnews, the increases cover the 2026/27 financial year and take effect from 1 April 2026.
The Presidency announced the decision in a statement on Tuesday. It said the President acted on recommendations from an independent commission that advises on remuneration for office-bearers, and that the serious economic challenges facing the country were taken into account.
Who gets what
Two different rates apply, depending on the office held.
A 3.5% increase goes to:
- members of the National Executive
- members of the National Assembly
- permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces
- premiers and members of provincial executive councils
- members of provincial legislatures
A 4% increase goes to:
- judges of the Constitutional Court and of other courts
- magistrates
- traditional leaders
- members of the national and provincial houses of traditional and Khoi-San leaders
- members of independent constitutional institutions
How the figures were reached
The commission has a constitutional duty to make recommendations every year on the pay, allowances and benefits of office-bearers. The Presidency said that in forming its view the commission looked at input from stakeholders and at the roles and responsibilities attached to each office. It also weighed up what the state can afford, along with past and expected inflation, data on wage settlements and the average yearly pay increases.
The commission also looked back at its own earlier recommendations and at the President’s pay determination for the previous financial year.
Mr Ramaphosa thanked the commission for its work. The Presidency said he urged office-bearers to keep their responsibilities in mind, to uphold their mandates and to honour the public trust that comes with their positions.
What this means for readers
The announcement covers elected officials, judicial officers, traditional leaders and members of independent constitutional bodies. It does not set out rand amounts, and it does not deal with pay for other public servants, whose increases are handled separately.
Because the rises take effect from 1 April 2026, they apply from the start of the current financial year, even though the determination was announced in November.
This story is based on reporting by SAnews.
