PARLIAMENT’S APPROVAL OF PRESIDENT’S SALARY INCREASE

10 March 2016

The Office of the ANC Chief Whip welcomes the National Assembly's approval of the recommendation by the Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers for the 4.4% salary increase for the President. The President recently approved a similar increase for the salaries of Members of Parliament for the 2015-2016 financial year.

Since taking office in 2009 the President has acted with sensitivity for the country’s economic climate and our people’s socio-economic conditions, and has on many occasions turned down the Commission's recommended increases that are above the prevailing inflation rate.

For instance, in the year that he came into office (2009) the commission recommended 8% but he reduced it to 7%; in 2010 the commission recommended 7% but he decided against it and substantially lowered it to 5%; and in 2013 the commission recommended 7% but the President decided totally against – opting instead for a zero increase.

In all the occassions that he either lowered his recommended increase or took no increase at all, he had approved the increases of the rest of office bearers, including Members of Parliament.

The cheap posturing and hypocrisy by certain opposition MPs who voted against the increase for the President, whilst they happily pocketed the salary increases he approved recently, is shameful. The President has led by example over the years by showing sensitivity to our people’s economic conditions. None of the opposition MPs who annually abuse Parliament’s consideration of his salary increases for narrow political posturing had the courage to emulate him by opting for a lower or no salary increase.

Statement issued by the Office of the ANC Chief Whip, 10 March 2016