Government salaries have increased so much in the last year that the state has had to use its savings to foot the increases in public wages.

Bloomberg reports that the South African government has put an embargo on the hiring of any more civil servants, while the current above-inflation state salary increase will cost the country R63.8 billion more in the next three years.

“Departments that had planned to expand headcount or fill vacancies need to postpone their plans. Some institutions may need to reduce the number of people they employ,” according to the Treasury.

Here’s what our top officials earn annually:

President – Jacob Zuma R2.75 million

Deputy President – Cyril Ramaphosa R2.6 million

Speaker of National Parliament R2.6 million

Ministers – 35 R2.21 million

Deputy Ministers – 37 R1.82 million

Total R152.64 million