Cape Town – The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) strongly criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to increase the salaries of public office bearers by 3%.
Cosatu called the decision “tone deaf and embarrassing” and argued that it should have been rejected, Times Live reported.
It highlighted the challenges faced by the working class in South Africa, such as load-shedding, rising living costs, corruption, and a stagnant economy, and stated that political leaders should show solidarity with the suffering masses instead of increasing their own salaries.
“What is most galling is the president chose to ignore the recommendation by Treasury for a 1.5% increase for political office bearers and judges and instead opted to increase it to 3%.
“The South African working class is facing mounting social challenges and it’s about time that political leaders show some solidarity with the suffering masses.
“Load-shedding, the rising cost of living, corruption and a stagnant economy have all happened under the watch and leadership of political office bearers. They do not deserve the packages they currently earn, let alone an increase in their salaries,” the report quoted Cosatu as saying.
Cosatu pointed out the hypocrisy of the government’s decision to grant a 3% increase to political office bearers and judges to prevent demoralisation, while imposing wage freezes and below CPI increases on police, nurses, and doctors.
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“Everyone feels the pinch of inflation, but when government says it has little resources, we think we should be diverting all those resources to those at the bottom. Those who earn the least, and have the least resources to survive.
“With rising levels of food, electricity and transport…that should be your nurses, police officers, cleaners and security guards in the state, who would take about a decade to earn what a politician or a judge earns in a single year.
“Politicians have complained to us that they’re struggling. Well….they’re not struggling as much as people on the ground,” said Cosatu, according to CapeTalk.
Ramaphosa approved a 3% salary increase for all public office bearers, including judges, magistrates, and traditional leaders over the weekend.
The decision came after recommendations by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-bearers, the presidency said.
The commission had suggested a 3.8% increment for the financial year 2022/2023, but due to the country’s economic challenges, the president opted for a 3% increase instead.
“Having considered the Commission’s recommendations and serious economic challenges facing the country, the President has decided that the salaries of all public office bearers be increased by three percent,” presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
The salaries of judges and magistrates will require approval from Parliament, and a notice has been submitted for this purpose.
“The President has in accordance to relevant statutory requirements submitted the notice to Parliament for approval before publication in as far as it relates to salaries of judges and magistrates,” said Magwenya.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
