MZANSI is up in arms after news broke that senior government officials could soon be pocketing even fatter salaries.
The Forum for South Africa (Fosa) is fuming over a plan to give the President, Deputy President, Cabinet Ministers and their deputies a whopping 4,1% salary increase for the 2025/2026 financial year.
This comes after the independent commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers made the controversial recommendation.
In a hard-hitting statement released on Monday, 22 December, Fosa's National Leader, Tebogo Mashilompane, didn't mince his words.
"At a time when millions of South Africans are facing extreme economic hardship, unemployment, rising food prices, collapsing public services and record crime levels, the proposal to increase salaries for political elites is insensitive, immoral and disconnected from reality," he said.
Fosa said this move is a slap in the face for ordinary South Africans who are struggling to make ends meet.
"South Africans are tightening their belts, yet those entrusted with public office continue to reward themselves while communities live without basic services, crime and corruption remain largely unpunished," said Fosa in a statement.
The organisation pointed out that unemployment is still sky-high, and state institutions are failing the people.
"Fosa believes leadership is about sacrifice and accountability, not self-enrichment. Any salary increases for public office bearers should be frozen until crime is significantly reduced.
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"Corruption cases result in convictions, service delivery improves, the economy shows real growth that benefits ordinary people."
Mashilompane also called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to do the right thing and reject the recommendations.
"South Africa does not suffer from a lack of money it suffers from poor leadership, misplaced priorities and a culture of entitlement amongst those in power," he said.
"Fosa will continue speaking out against policies and decisions that undermine the dignity, welfare and trust of South Africans."
However, Fosa isn't the only one angry. Other organisations have also slammed the proposed salary hike.
Cosatu spokesman Matthew Parks said in a statement on Sunday 21 December, the increase does not make sense while the country is facing financial challenges.
"It's beyond shameful that in the year when Cabinet said the state did not have money to fulfil its legal obligations and thus a 2% VAT hike was unavoidable, that this tone-deaf commission can make such an obnoxious proposal.
"It defies logic that a month after Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana warned Parliament and the nation that further tax hikes may be a necessity in 2026, that the commission thought proposing an additional R536 million to fund the salaries of politicians, commissioners and judges is morally justifiable," he said.
