Cosatu slams Cyril Ramaphosa’s salary hike for politicians

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has criticised the 3.5% salary increase approved for politicians and public office-bearers, describing it as an ill-considered message to South Africans struggling with unemployment and deteriorating public services.

President Cyril Ramaphosa approved salary increases for public office-bearers for the 2026/27 financial year, effective from 1 April 2026.

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Members of the National Executive, Parliament, provincial legislatures and other political office-bearers will receive a 3.5% increase. Municipal councillors are also among those whose remuneration has come under scrutiny.

Cosatu, however, has backed the separate 4% increase for magistrates, arguing that retaining skilled professionals in the judiciary is important to prevent a brain drain.

Cosatu questions timing of salary increases

Cosatu Parliamentary Coordinator Matthew Parks questioned the decision to increase politicians’ salaries while municipalities face financial difficulties and struggle to deliver basic services.

He said the decision was particularly difficult to justify given the country’s unemployment crisis and the financial challenges facing public institutions.

In a statement shared on X, Cosatu said: “It makes no sense when government routinely says it does not have enough money to fund core constitutional mandates, yet it has found half a billion rand for an increase of politicians.

“It makes no sense when governors cut back on public employment programmes despite 13 million people struggling to find work.

“It makes no sense when municipal workers have often not been paid their salaries, have not been paid for months at a time, medical aids defaulted by their employers.”

Parks also questioned the increase for municipal councillors while municipal finances and service delivery continue to deteriorate.

Cosatu supports magistrates’ increase

Despite its criticism of the increases for political office-bearers, Cosatu has drawn a distinction between politicians and magistrates.

The federation supports the 4% increase for magistrates, arguing that they are skilled professionals whose retention is important for the functioning of the country’s justice system.

Cosatu believes competitive remuneration is necessary to prevent experienced legal professionals from leaving the judiciary.

The salary adjustments follow recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers, which considers factors including inflation, economic conditions, fiscal affordability and the responsibilities attached to public office.