Issued by: Office of the Presidency
19 July 2002
The Commission's advice on the remuneration of public office-bearers at all levels of government is published in the General Government Gazette of 19 July 2002.
Annexure F of the Government Gazette gives a three notch structure for salaries of parliamentarians and MPLs agreed to by the President last year.
Notes:
1. The Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office-bearers is a constitutional and independent body which recommends
2. The process of determining the salary levels of political office bearers was decided upon in order to avoid situations where office-bearers determine their own salaries. The process followed in SA is perhaps the most transparent in the world.
3. In terms of the Remunerations of Public Office-bearers Act, the President has to consider 6 factors in making a decision on the salaries of parliamentarians and cabinet, one of which is the recommendations of the commission. Others are things such as inflation; affordability; role, status, duties, functions and responsibilities etc; comparative salaries in society generally; etc.
4. The Commission recommended an increase of 7% per annum in remuneration packages for this year for all public office bearers at all levels of Government, including National, Provincial, Local levels as well as for Traditional Leaders. This compares well to current annualized inflation rates in SA of 9% and to the 9% increase in salaries to municipal workers in terms of this week's proposed agreement with the unions and 9% granted to civil servants earlier in the year.
5. The Commission has had due regard to all the submissions it received. It has also evaluated material concerning matters such as the levels of remuneration in the public and private sectors, the current rate of inflation, probable future trends in this respect was well as other relevant information. All the recommendations are therefore based on the aforementioned considerations and material.
6. The President has received but not yet approved the commission's report and recommendations on the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers for 2002.
7. Last year, the President had the report discussed in Cabinet and set up a Cabinet Committee to advise him on the recommendations. He may choose to do the same with this report, but this is at his discretion. While this is likely, the President may decide to simply accept the recommendations after consideration.
8. The commission recommended that the President's remuneration package be increased by 7%. This means that it is proposed that his salary will increase from R862 460.00 to R922 832.20 per annum. By legislation, Parliament determines the President's salary, which means that the specific proposal on the President's salary has to be put to the National Assembly for majority vote before it becomes effective.
9. Also note, the Commission recommended an 8% increase last year for the President which was accepted by parliament, and in 2000 the President asked Parliament not to give him the proposed increase, and he therefore got no increase in 2000.
10. Full copies of the commission's report is available at the Union Buildings, West Wing reception and recommendations are available at Government Printers from today.
For further information: Phone Nazeem Mahatey (Presidency) on 082 376 3820 or the Commission Secretary directly, Adv. Lindi Vilakazi on 012 3005402.
Prepared by Communications Research, The Presidency