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1     The Commission is statutorily obliged, by virtue of section 8 (4) and (5) of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers Act 1997 (“the Commission Act”), to make annual recommendations relating to the salaries or upper limits of the salaries, allowances, benefits, and the resources (tools of trade) required by POBs to enable them to perform their respective duties effectively.

2     For the 2014/2015 financial year, the Commission recommended a cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) of 5% for POBs earning an annual remuneration package of more than R1 000 000 and 6% for POBs earning less than an annual remuneration package of R1 000 000. The President on determining the annual remuneration for 2014/2015 acceded to the proposed recommendations of the Commission.        

3    During the Commission’s strategic planning session held on 30 - 31 January 2015, stakeholder management was identified as one of the Commission’s objectives. To this end, the Commission drew an engagement plan and conducted stakeholder engagements with the following stakeholders: Legislative Sector Forum (LSF), Provincial Legislatures (PL), National and Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders (N/PHTL) and the Judiciary. The aim was to hear and collate all the concerns and challenges that affect the remuneration of POBs in totality, so as to inform the decision making process of the Commission in making annual remuneration recommendations that are independent, transparent, accountable and sustainable.

4    The Commission fully acknowledges that the POBs responsibilities should depend, to a considerable degree, upon a spirit of self-sacrifice and volunteerism on their part for the public good. However such motivation should not require unreasonable sacrifices to their private lives. 

Commission’s deliberations on the annual remuneration recommendations

5     The Commission met on 21 – 22 August 2015 to draft an interim proposal taking account of the current economic climate, feedback received from the stakeholder management sessions and other factors as set out in the Commission Act and their process. This interim proposal was then discussed with its statutory stakeholders (i.e. the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, the Minister of Finance and the Chief Justice).

6     After consulting with the aforementioned statutory stakeholders, the Commission held a meeting on             17 October 2015 to discuss the feedback received. At this meeting the recommendations were finalized.

7        In terms of Section 8 (3B) (a) the Chairperson of the Commission recused himself during the deliberations on the remuneration of the Judiciary.

Factors considered for the annual remuneration recommendations

8     The Commission in making its 2015/2016 recommendations considered the comments and inputs from the stakeholders and took into account matters that are within its mandate.

9        The following factors, as provided for in section 8(6) of the Commission Act, were also considered:

·                    The role, status, duties, functions and responsibilities of the POBs

·                    Economic Conditions

·                    Current principles and levels of remuneration

·                    Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Future Forecast

·                    The past recommendations and the President’s determinations

Annual remuneration recommendations for POBs for 2015/2016

10  After considering the relevant legislation and factors mentioned above, including the inputs of all stakeholders who provided such inputs, the Commission is recommending the following annual remuneration adjustments for POBs for 2015/2016 financial year:

10.1   The President, Deputy President, Speaker of National Parliament, Chairperson of National Council of Provinces, and Chief Justice

10.1.1  5% for the remuneration of the President and all anchor positions of the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary, in order to maintain the equal status of the three arms of state.

10.2   Members of National and Provincial Executive, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and Provincial legislatures

10.2.1  5% for all POBs of the above structures. In making the recommendations for the above Members, the Commission considered the additional benefits that are prescribed by their institutional handbooks and prescripts which augment their remuneration package of these POBs and to an extent act as a buffer to the direct effects of inflation.

10.3   Judges and Magistrates

10.3.1  5% from the position of Deputy Chief Justice to Judge of Supreme Court of Appeal;

10.3.2  5.5% from the position of Judge President of High/Labour Court to Chief Magistrate; and

10.3.3  6% for the position of Senior Magistrate and Magistrate.

10.4   Local Government POBs

10.4.1  5.5% from position of Executive Mayor to Whip; and

10.4.2  6% for position of Municipal Councillor.

10.5   Traditional Leaders

10.5.1  5.5% for a position of a King / Queen;

10.5.2  6% from a position of Chairperson of National House of Traditional Leaders to a Full-time member of Provincial House of Traditional Leaders;

10.5.3  8% for a position of Senior Traditional Leaders; and

10.5.4  An amount of R 91 000 for the Headmen / Headwomen.

10.6   The remuneration scales are attached as schedule 1 to 7.

11  The Commission submitted the aforementioned 2015/2016 recommendations to the President and Parliament on 24 October 2015 and 28 October 2015 respectively. Comprehensive information of the recommendations is contained on Government Gazette No. 39428 published on 20 November 2015. The Gazette is also available online at www.gpwonline.co.za or remcommission.gov.za.

SCHEDULE 1

REMUNERATION LEVELS WITH EFFECT 01 APRIL 2015

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE AND DEPUTY MINISTERS

GRADE

PAY LEVEL

POSITION

01-Apr-14

01-Apr-15

Proposed %

EA

1

President

2 753 689

2 891 373

5%

EB

1

Deputy President

2 602 297

2 732 412

EC

1

Minister

2 211 937

2 322 534

ED

1

Deputy Minister

1 821 577

1 912 656

SCHEDULE 2

REMUNERATION LEVELS WITH EFFECT 01 APRIL 2015

MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

GRADE

PAY LEVEL

POSITION

01-Apr-14

01-Apr-15

Proposed %

PA

1

Speaker: National Assembly

2 602 297

2 732 412

5%

Chairperson: NCOP

2 602 297

2 732 412

PB

1

Deputy Speaker: National Assembly

1 821 577

1 912 656

Deputy Chairperson: NCOP

1 821 577

1 912 656

2

House Chairperson

1 691 508

1 776 084

PC

1

Chief Whip: Majority Party

1 431 218

1 502 778

Chief Whip: NCOP

1 431 218

1 502 778

Parliamentary Counsellor: President

1 431 218

1 502 778

Parliamentary Counsellor: Deputy President

1 431 218

1 502 778

Leader of Opposition

1 431 218

1 502 778

2

Chairperson of a Committee

1 301 148

1 366 206

PD

1

Deputy Chief Whip: Majority Party

1 171 079

1 229 633

Chief Whip: Largest Minority Party

1 171 079

1 229 633

Leader of a Minority Party

1 171 079

1 229 633

2

Whip

1 086 702

1 141 037

PE

1

Member: National Assembly

989 883

1 039 377

Permanent Delegate: NCOP

989 883

1 039 377

SCHEDULE 3

REMUNERATION LEVELS WITH EFFECT 01 APRIL 2015

PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVES AND LEGISLATURES

GRADE

PAY LEVEL

POSITION

01-Apr-14

01-Apr-15

Proposed %

LA

1

Premier

2 081 868

2 185 961

5%

LB

1

Member of Executive Council

1 821 577

1 912 656

Speaker

1 821 577

1 912 656

LC

1

Deputy Speaker

1 431 218

1 502 778

Chief Whip: Majority Party

1 301 148

1 366 206

2

Chairperson of Committees

1 171 080

1 229 634

Leader of Opposition

1 171 080

1 229 634

Chairperson of a Committee

1 171 080

1 229 634

3

Deputy Chairperson of Committees

1 101 780

1 156 869

Deputy Chief Whip: Majority Party

1 101 780

1 156 869

Chief Whip: Largest Minority Party

1 101 780

1 156 869

Leader of a Minority Party

1 101 780

1 156 869

LD

1

Parliamentary Counsellor to a King

989 883

1 039 377

Whip

989 883

1 039 377

2

Member of Provincial Legislature

958 056

1 005 958

SCHEDULE 4

REMUNERATION LEVELS WITH EFFECT 01 July 2015

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

GRADE

PAY LEVEL

POSITION

01-Jul-14

01-Jul-15

Proposed %

MA

1

Executive Mayor

1 177 638

1 242 408

5.5%

Mayor

1 177 638

1 242 408

MB

1

Deputy Executive Mayor

951 084

1 003 393

Speaker/Chairperson

951 084

1 003 393

Deputy Mayor

951 084

1 003 393

MC

2

Member of Executive Council

891 640

940 680

Member of Mayoral Committee

891 640

940 680

Chairperson of a Sub-council

891 640

940 680

Whip

891 640

940 680

MD

1

Municipal Councillor

489 868

519 261

6%

SCHEDULE 5

REMUNERATION LEVELS WITH EFFECT 01 APRIL 2015

JUDGES

GRADE

PAY LEVEL

POSITION

01-Apr-14

01-Apr-15

Proposed %

JA

1

Chief Justice

2 602 297

2 732 412

5%

JB

1

Deputy Chief Justice

2 342 006

2 459 106

President: Supreme Court of Appeal

2 342 006

2 459 106

JC

1

Deputy President: Supreme Court of Appeal

2 211 937

2 322 534

2

Judge: Constitutional Court

2 081 868

2 185 961

Judge: Supreme Court of Appeal

2 081 868

2 185 961

3

Judge President: High/Labour Court

1 951 799

2 059 148

5.5%

4

Deputy Judge President: High/Labour Court

1 821 577

1 921 764

5

Judge: High/Labour Court

1 691 508

1 784 541

SCHEDULE 6

REMUNERATION LEVELS WITH EFFECT 01 APRIL 2015

MAGISTRATES

GRADE

PAY LEVEL

POSITION

01-Apr-14

01-Apr-15

Proposed %

JD

1

Special Grade Chief Magistrate

1 171 079

1 235 489

5.5%

Regional Court President

1 171 079

1 235 489

JE

1

Regional Magistrate

1 050 771

1 108 563

Chief Magistrate

1 050 771

1 108 563

JF

1

Senior Magistrate

866 878

918 891

6%

JG

1

Magistrate

788 155

835 444

SCHEDULE 7

REMUNERATION LEVELS WITH EFFECT 01 APRIL 2015

TRADITIONAL LEADERS

GRADE

PAY LEVEL

FULL TIME POSITIONS

01-Apr-14

01-Apr-15

Proposed %

TA

1

King/Queen

1 078 599

1 137 922

5.5%

TB

1

Chairperson: NHTL

771 549

817 842

6%

2

Full time Chairperson: PHTL

635 475

673 603

3

Deputy Chairperson: NHTL

590 117

625 524

4

Full time Deputy Chairperson: PHTL

544 605

577 281

TC

1

Full time Member: NHTL

317 661

336 720

2

Full time Member: PHTL

272 302

288 641

TD

1

Senior Traditional Leader

199 729

215 708

8%

TE

1

Headmen / Headwomen

84 125

91 000

PART TIME POSITIONS*

Part time Member: NHTL

1 144

1 235

8%

Part time Chairperson: PHTL

1 361

1 470

8%

Part time Deputy Chairperson: PHTL

1 224

1 322

8%

Part time Member: PHTL

949

1 025

8%

* In addition to sitting allowances, part time members are entitled to their salaries as Traditional Leaders, as well as subsistence costs (reasonable and actual expenses) and transport costs (Department of Transport tariffs for the use of privately owned vehicles), for their attendance of official meetings, seminars, workshops and conferences of the respective Houses)

Issued by GCIS on behalf of The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers