Ramaphosa approves substantial pay rises for Public Service Commission leaders

President Cyril Ramaphosa has approved increased annual salaries for leaders of the Public Service Commission (PSC). The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) published the new pay levels for the PSC chairperson, deputy chairperson and the 11 commissioners.

Who benefits and by how much

The DPSA said the PSC chairperson, Professor Somadoda Fikeni, will earn an annual salary of R2.52 million. The deputy chairperson, Dr Zukiswa Mqolomba, will earn about R2.45 million a year, and the 11 commissioners will earn nearly R1.886 million apiece.

The increases approved by the president amount to about R97,000, R94,100 and R72,500 a year for the chairperson, deputy chairperson and commissioners respectively, the DPSA said.

Legal authority and conditions of service

The DPSA said that, in terms of the PSC Act, the authority to determine remuneration and conditions of service for the chairperson, deputy chairperson and commissioners is vested in the president.

The department also explained that the conditions of service for these offices, including their inclusive flexible remuneration packages, are linked to salaries and conditions applying to comparable senior management positions in the public service.

“A commissioner shall not hold office in any political party or political organisation. He/she shall not, without the consent of the president, perform or engage himself/herself to perform any remunerative work outside the duties of his/her office,” the department stated.

Motor car allowance and vehicle provisions

The DPSA said PSC commissioners have access to a motor car allowance of up to 25% of the total package per annum. Among the provisions, a commissioner is obliged to maintain a reliable vehicle for official journeys or may purchase or lease a new or reliable pre-owned vehicle.

There are no stated timeframes for vehicle replacement, but commissioners must have a vehicle or a substitute available for official journeys. The chairperson or a delegate must decide whether a member should use their own vehicle or make use of the official transport provisions, taking into account practical implications, cost effectiveness and road conditions, the department said.

Context and earlier increases

The DPSA announcement follows an earlier decision this year in which President Ramaphosa approved a 3.8% increase to the salaries of public office-bearers. The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers had recommended a 4.1% increase for public representatives, members of various commissions and the judiciary.

The earlier approval prompted criticism from labour groups. The trade union federation Cosatu described that decision as disappointing and said the pay hikes sent “an ill-considered message” about a political elite out of touch with ordinary South Africans. The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) said it found Ramaphosa’s approval of the increment during national challenges to be “completely unprincipled,” arguing the same people who resisted pay increases for public servants had granted themselves the rise.

What happens next

The DPSA statement sets the new salaries and conditions; the president’s authority under the PSC Act governs their implementation. The department’s published details include the remuneration levels, conditions of service linkages and the motor vehicle provisions described above.