Ramaphosa Salary Raised Amid National Struggles

National Assembly backs President’s pay hike after he approved salary increases for all ministers and MPs

With an issue that sparked controversy, the National Assembly approved a 3.8% salary increase for the President, a decision that comes at a time when South Africa is battling socio-economic issues.

The National Assembly has approved this salary hike for President Cyril Ramaphosa, with some political parties challenging him to forego the increase that will take his annual salary to approximately R3.4-million.

President Ramaphosa approved the same increase for all ministers and parliamentarians, but other parties are opposing the move, maintaining the view that he is undeserving of that salary hike.

While the African National Congress's (ANC) deputy chief whip, Doris Dlakude, has pointed out that Chief Executive Officers in both the public and private sectors earn far more than the president, the debate remains heated.

The Democratic Alliance’s (DA) deputy chief whip, Baxolile Nodada, reminded the house that Parliament’s top executive, Xolile George, also earns a higher figure.

“And while the president will now earn more, the secretary to this parliament earns approximately R2-million more than the president a year,” Nodada noted during the proceedings.

The Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF) Poppy Mailola is of the view that the president should set an example by foregoing the salary hike entirely.

“He should be standing here and saying: ‘I have my billions, please do not increase my salary, in fact, take my salary and give it to the Marikana widows',” she argued.

Although the MK Party did not reject the increase, Mzwanele Manyi said Ramaphosa has failed to lift millions of South Africans out of poverty.

“Instead of bold structural reform, decisive governance, South Africa has experienced drift, indecision and policy inconsistency,” Manyi stated.

Meanwhile, ActionSA’s Athol Trollip said while it would be hypocritical for MPs to reject the salary proposal when they received the same, the president and his cabinet receive far more state-paid perks than ordinary MPs do.

The salary hike will also apply to the salary for life paid to former presidents.

For now, the 3.8% figure has become a new, bitter symbol of the gap between the governed and the government.