It’s good and bad news for government ministers at the start of 2026. The good part for them is President Cyril Ramaphosa has just approved a salary increase. However, the bad part is it’s not as high as South Africa’s top-echelon ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentarians may have been hoping for.
Salary increases for government ministers need to be recommended by the Independent Commission for Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers. The entity did as much late last year just after parliament shutdown for the Christmas holiday. It recommended 4.1%, but the final, approved rate was 0.3-percentage points lower at 3.8%.
HOW MUCH GOVERNMENT MINISTERS WILL BE PAID IN 2026
As The South African reported late in 2025, opposition parties called pay hikes for government ministers in the current economy a ‘slap in the face to citizens.’ ActionSA’s Alan Beesley condemned the increases, calling them unacceptable: “These office bearers are delivering very little that they are meant to, so why pay them more?”
Likewise, civil advocacy groups were quick to point out that the proposed annual increase for just one minister would be enough to pay more than 50 extra SASSA grants per year. Or the equivalent of nearly three and a half years’ worth of social welfare for one elderly/disabled person. Nevertheless, increases for government ministers in 2026 have gone ahead as follows …
WHAT SA’S TOP GOVERNMENT MINISTERS WILL EARN IN 2026
In determining its recommendation, the commission noted the steep decline in inflation late last year, reports BusinessTech. However, an initial projection of 4.5% at the beginning of the year, finally dropped to 3.5% by year end. Therefore, the approved 3.8% increase for government ministers in 2026 does still fall within the proposed range, while exceeding inflation.
Notably, President Cyril Ramaphosa still needs his salary to be approved by parliament. While he signs off increases for other top officials, he cannot rubberstamp his own. As such, the commission recommends he, too, receives a 4.1% increase, but final approval will be up to MPs. Check out the pay chart (+ annual increases) for South Africa’s government ministers in 2026 below:
GOVERNMENT MINISTERS – Top Executives
- President – TBD
- Deputy President – R3 284 911 +R120 257
- Minister – R2 792 155 +R102 758
- Deputy Minister – R2 299 398 +R84 178
GOVERNMENT MINISTERS – Members of Parliament
- Speaker – R3 284 911 +R120 257
- Chair – R3 284 911 +R120 257
- Deputy Speaker – R2 299 398 +R84 178
- Deputy Chair – R2 299 398 +R84 178
- House Chair – R2 188 594 +R84 178
- Chief Whip – R1 860 714 +R67 579
- Leader of Opposition – R1 860 714 +R67 579
- Chair of Committee – R1 738 976 +R63 662
- Whip – R1 452 371 +R53 170
- Member – R1 322 968 +R48 432
- Permanent Delegate – R1 322 968 +R48 432
Provincial Executive
- Premier – R2 635 562 +R103 802
- MEC – R2 306 044 +R90 824
- Speaker – R2 306 044 +R90 824
- Deputy Speaker – R1 866 092 +R73 497
- Chief Whip – R1 744 002 +R68 688
- Chair of Committee – R1 569 666 +R61 822
- Leader of Opposition – R1 569 666 +R61 822
- Leader of Minority – R1 476 775 +R58 163
- Whip – R1 326 792 +R52 256
- Member of Provincial Legislature – R1 284 135 +R50 575
But what do you think? Are above-inflation increases to government ministers a slap in the face to regular citizens? Or do you think they need to be well paid to make a difference for South Africans? Let us know in the comments section below …
