The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has announced that it will discuss annual pay increases for MPs and other public representatives with newly installed President Cyril Ramaphosa and members of the incoming executive.
Earlier this year, the president approved a 2.5% across-the-board salary increase for members of parliament, state assemblies and state premiers.
The new MPs will earn an annual salary of about R1.27 million, or a monthly salary of R100,000.
“We think that there needs to be a debate at some stage, preferably soon and certainly before the next pay increase which is due next year. What is the appropriate pay level for members of parliament, particularly civil servants, premiers and mayors? Because sometimes the government complains about poverty and says it cannot afford to pay nurses, teachers, police officers, cleaners, security guards. Politicians across party lines, particularly some in the opposition who are currently going down that path, sometimes complain about total salaries. We think that resources need to be shifted to those who earn the least – nurses, police officers, defence personnel, interior ministry personnel, security guards, cleaners,” said Cosatu's parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parkes.
Video: MPs and ministers' salaries revealed
