Economist Dawie Roodt has sparked outrage from the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA) after calling public servants a “parasitic force” draining the national budget.
Roodt’s Remarks
Speaking at the 2026 BizNews Conference in Hermanus, Roodt delivered a scathing critique of public servants.
He argued that the true state capture in South Africa is the civil service and tenderpreneurs draining the budget.
“South Africa has 1.2 million civil servants, excluding state-owned enterprises and local authorities,” he said.
“The salary bill of civil servants is a third of state expenditure. The civil servants get, not earn, around 13% of South Africa’s economy.”
He said they are significantly overpaid relative to the value they providehence “get” instead of “earn.”
He also criticised cadre deployment, which he said leads to widespread incompetence as individuals are appointed based on loyalty to the ANC rather than ability.
This, he argued, has resulted in increased mismanagement and corruption at national government, local authorities, and state-owned enterprises.
He bemoaned that leaders at Eskom and Transnet earn millions while struggling to deliver on their mandates.
Roodt warned that the parasitic state is choking growth, and without intervention, South Africa faces further increases in unemployment and poverty.
He called for a political shift toward a state that serves the people rather than serving itself.
The PSA’s Response
The PSA hit back hard.
“These statements are unfounded and highly offensive to the hundreds of thousands of hardworking public servants who serve citizens with dedication.”
“The PSA strongly rejects these remarks. To label all public servants and describe them as parasitic or state capturers is a dangerous generalisation.”
It said Roodt’s comments demonstrate a lack of understanding of the realities under which public servants workdifficult conditions, limited resources, and enormous pressure to deliver essential services.
“Public servants are not the enemy of the public. They are the people who serve the public.”
“They are the nurses in hospitals, teachers in schools, police officers on the streets, and administrative staff who ensure that government institutions continue to function.”
The Salary Dispute
The PSA strongly objected to the claim that public servants are overpaid.
“This assertion is not grounded in reality.”
“Public servants also have financial obligations to support their families, paying loans, and coping with rising living costs like all South Africans.”
With rising inflation and increasing costs of basic necessities, it is entirely reasonable for workers to expect fair salary increases.
It added that Roodt’s assumptions regarding the average salary of public servants are far removed from the truth.
“Policy debates should be based on facts and credible data, not on loose assumptions and populist statements.”
Salaries and benefits are determined through formal collective bargaining processesnot by individuals or commentators.
The Bottom Line
Roodt sees a parasitic state draining the economy. The PSA sees hardworking servants doing their jobs.
Both sides have points. But the clash reflects a deeper tension: how do we value the people who run the countryand how do we hold them accountable when things go wrong?
