{"id":35863,"date":"2026-01-21T21:11:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/?p=35863"},"modified":"2026-01-21T21:11:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:11:30","slug":"ramaphosa-slammed-for-approving-salary-increases-for-public-office-bearers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/2026\/01\/21\/ramaphosa-slammed-for-approving-salary-increases-for-public-office-bearers\/","title":{"rendered":"Ramaphosa slammed for approving salary increases for public office bearers"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_35865\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-35865\" style=\"width: 770px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-35865\" src=\"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/RAMAPHOSA-770x522-1.jpg\" alt=\"Photo credit: Cyril Ramaphosa, X\" width=\"770\" height=\"522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/RAMAPHOSA-770x522-1.jpg 770w, https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/RAMAPHOSA-770x522-1-768x521.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-35865\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image credit: Cyril Ramaphosa, X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p data-start=\"128\" data-end=\"368\"><br data-start=\"135\" data-end=\"138\" \/>President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s decision to approve salary increases for public office bearers has sparked debate among South Africans, with critics accusing the government of prioritising politicians over the needs of ordinary citizens.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"370\" data-end=\"776\">The increases follow recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"370\" data-end=\"776\">According to the Presidency, Ramaphosa approved a 4.1% increase for judges, magistrates, traditional leaders, and members of independent constitutional institutions. A 3.8% increase will apply to members of the national executive, Parliament, provincial executives, and legislatures.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"792\" data-end=\"941\">The move has drawn criticism on social media, where some South Africans argue that the funds would be better directed toward struggling public services such as health and education.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">He should update SERVICE level instead of updating SALARY levels!<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 White Lion II (NDDN) Wittoslav Lionovski (@WhiteLionII1) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/WhiteLionII1\/status\/2013496614548111411?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved salary increases for politicians and other public office-bearers. The salary adjustments will take effect from April 1. Under the new structure, the deputy president will earn about $177,000 a year, cabinet ministers around\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HMCS6V5OzB\">pic.twitter.com\/HMCS6V5OzB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sahel Revolutionary Soldier (@cecild84) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cecild84\/status\/2013691459640102964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Your salary increase was between 3% and 6% in the last 8 years of Ramaphosa while the cost of living increase was between 10% and 25%. You are much poorer now than before.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile resourceful baddies are making R300k monthly through negotiable affections. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/6ftEuP5gub\">pic.twitter.com\/6ftEuP5gub<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Sentletse \ud83c\uddff\ud83c\udde6\ud83c\uddf7\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddf1\ud83c\udde7 (@Sentletse) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Sentletse\/status\/2013653145201578451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ziziphol\/video\/7597390276134472980\" data-video-id=\"7597390276134472980\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\">\n<section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@ziziphol\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@ziziphol?refer=embed\">@ziziphol<\/a> <\/p>\n<p><a title=\"politics\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/politics?refer=embed\">#politics<\/a> <a title=\"cyrilramaphosa\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/cyrilramaphosa?refer=embed\">#cyrilramaphosa<\/a> <\/p>\n<p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\u266c original sound - Zizipho\u2728\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7597390387636472577?refer=embed\">\u266c original sound &#8211; Zizipho\u2728<\/a> <\/section>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"953\" data-end=\"1114\">Trade unions, including the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), have echoed these concerns.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1416\"><a href=\"https:\/\/mediadon.co.za\/cosatu-is-dismayed-by-the-2026-salary-increase-for-politicians\/\">COSATU says<\/a> the decision sends an ill-considered message and is out of touch with the realities faced by ordinary South Africans.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1116\" data-end=\"1416\">While the federation supports the increase for magistrates to prevent skills losses in the justice system, it has criticised what it describes as generous increases for politicians.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/NEHAWU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NEHAWU<\/a> condemns the decision by President Ramaphosa to approve an increase in salaries for Public Office Bearers by 3.8% following recommendations by the Independent Commission for Remuneration for Public Office.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MorningLiveSABC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MorningLiveSABC<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SakinaKamwendo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SakinaKamwendo<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Treasury_RSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Treasury_RSA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PresidencyZA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@PresidencyZA<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/74kKFgVyWb\">pic.twitter.com\/74kKFgVyWb<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 @COSATU Today (@_cosatu) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/_cosatu\/status\/2013736111932064250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1438\" data-end=\"1592\">SAFTU has also condemned the decision, warning that it could deepen poverty and further strain the working class.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">SAFTU CONDEMNS THE APPROVAL OF A 3.8% SALARY INCREASE FOR TOP POLITICIANS. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/X7q3JwQ6T8\">pic.twitter.com\/X7q3JwQ6T8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SAFTU (@SAFTU_media) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SAFTU_media\/status\/2013700515083829512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 20, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2019s decision to approve salary increases for public office bearers has sparked debate among South Africans, with critics accusing the government of prioritising politicians over the needs of ordinary citizens. The increases follow recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers. According to the Presidency, ...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":35865,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[2089,2491,778,2492,2493,2490],"class_list":["post-35863","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-cosatu","tag-politicians","tag-president-cyril-ramaphosa","tag-public-office-bearers","tag-saftu","tag-salary-increases"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/RAMAPHOSA-770x522-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35863","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35863"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35863\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35877,"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35863\/revisions\/35877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35865"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35863"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35863"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.yfm.co.za\/devworld\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35863"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}