The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers has recommended a general increase in salary, allowances, and benefits of 11 percent effective from April 1, 2008, for all public office bearers.

In terms of this, President Kgalema Motlanthe's total package will increase to R2,107,224 a year, that of Deputy President Baleka Mbete to R1,896,546, Cabinet ministers R1,612,053, and deputy ministers R1,327,560 a year.

The leader of the opposition will get R1,043.067 and ordinary MPs will receive R714,618 a year.

The premiers of the nine provinces will receive R1,517,259, MECs R1,327,560, and MPLs R691,641 a year.

The commission recommended a total salary package of R840,159 a year for executive mayors and mayors, R680,985 for deputy mayors, R641,247 for municipal MECs, and R322,899 for councillors.

Full time traditional leaders can expect total remuneration ranging from R786,080 (kings) to R144,189 (senior traditional leaders) a year.

The commission also recommended a total package of R1,896,546 a year for the Chief Justice, R1,706,847 for the Deputy Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA), while Constitutional Court and SCA Judges will get R1,517,259.

It recommended that High Court Judge Presidents receive R1,422,465 a year, their deputies R1,327,560, and Judges R1,232,766.

A special grade Chief Magistrate, Regional Court President, and Divorce Court President will get R853,479 a year, and a Regional Magistrate, Chief Magistrate, and Divorce Court Presiding Officer R758,574.

The recommendation for Senior Magistrates is R625,818 a year and for Magistrates R568,986.

Briefing the media, commission chairman Dikgang Moseneke said it was also being recommended that an MP or MPL who had served a period of five years or less should not be entitled to a pension.

Instead, such a person should receive a "once-off terminal payment" equal to 45 percent of pensionable salary for every year of service.

AN MP or MPL who had served more than five years and whose term of office had ended would be entitled to a once-off gratuity equal to four months pensionable salary for every five years of service or a pro-rata part of the five year period.

The non-taxable allowance of R40,000 a year for MPs and MPLs should also be increased to R120,000, Moseneke said.

The recommendations now have to be approved by Motlanthe and by Parliament.