Government has gazetted the official salary changes for public office bearers for 2017 – implementing the pay freeze recommended by the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers last year.

In 2016, the commission recommended that high-earning public officials – including the president, deputy president and all ministers and deputy ministers – get a zero-percent increase in salaries for 2017.

The recommendation was reached following consulting with various stakeholders, the commission said, but is primarily based on the directive from minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan and National Treasury in his budget speech. Simply put, Gordhan said that the country does not have enough money to increase salaries for government officials.

“The higher level of unemployment and the low tax base (has resulted in) inadequate state resources to fund remuneration increases,” the commission said.

The new salaries for government officials are listed in the latest government gazette (No.40569).

It excludes the salary for president Jacob Zuma, as his salary changes are determined by Parliament, and is still to be debated. Zuma’s salary for 2016 was set at R2.87 million.

This is what public officials will earn in 2017:

Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers

Role Total Remuneration Deputy President R2 716 796 Ministers R2 309 262 Deputy Ministers R1 901 726

Members of the National Assembly and Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces

Role Total Remuneration Speaker of the National Assembly

Chairperson of the NCOP R2 716 798 Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly

Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP R1 901 726 House Chairperson R1 765 934 Chief Whip of the Majority Party

Chief Whip of the NCOP

Parliamentary Council President

Parliamentary Council Deputy President

Leader of the Opposition R1 494 192 Chairperson of a Committee R1 358 399 Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party

Chief Whip of the largest Minority Party

Leader of a Minority Party R1 222 606 Whip R1 134 517 Member of the National Assembly

Permanent Delegate of the NCOP R1 033 438

Premiers, Members of the Executive Council and Members of the Provincial Legislatures (adjusted by 4.4%)

Role Total Remuneration Premier R2 173 470 Member of Executive Council

Speaker R1 901 726 Deputy Speaker R1 494 192 Chief Whip of the Majority Party R1 358 399 Chairperson of Committees

Leader of the Opposition R1 222 608 Deputy Chairperson of Committees

Deputy Chief Whip of the Majority Party

Chief Whip of the largest Minority Party

Leader of a Minority Party R1 150 258 Parliamentary Councillor to a King / Queen

Whip R1 033 438 Member of Provincial Legislature R1 000 210

Read: Zuma, ministers and deputies face a zero-percent salary increase in 2017