Government10 November 2026

MPs now earn R1.37m a year after Ramaphosa's 3.5% pay rise

Ramaphosa has approved 3.5% raises for ministers, MPs, premiers and MECs and 4% for judges and traditional leaders, backdated to 1 April 2026. A minister now earns R2.9 million a year and an MP R1.37 million.

By Reported Team

Empty leather benches and desks with microphones in South Africa's National Assembly chamber — Photo: shi zhao, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Ministers, MPs, premiers and members of provincial legislatures get a 3.5% pay rise for 2026/27, while judges, magistrates and traditional leaders get 4%, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The increases are backdated to 1 April 2026 (The Presidency; EWN).

That takes a minister's annual salary to R2,898,233 and an ordinary MP's to R1,373,230 (BusinessTech).

Who gets 3.5% and who gets 4%?

Increase	Who it applies to
3.5%	Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, MPs, permanent NCOP delegates, premiers, MECs and members of provincial legislatures
4%	Constitutional Court and other judges, magistrates, traditional and Khoi-San leaders, members of independent constitutional institutions

Source: The Presidency.

What do ministers and MPs earn now?

Position	2025/26	2026/27	Increase
Speaker of the National Assembly	R3,294,404	R3,409,708	R115,304
Minister	R2,800,225	R2,898,233	R98,008
Premier	R2,635,562	R2,727,807	R92,245
Deputy minister	R2,306,044	R2,386,756	R80,712
MEC	R2,306,044	R2,386,756	R80,712
Leader of the Opposition	R1,866,092	R1,931,405	R65,313
Member of the National Assembly	R1,326,792	R1,373,230	R46,438

Source: BusinessTech.

An MP's new salary works out to about R114,436 a month before tax, based on the annual figure.

What do judges earn?

Position	From 1 April 2025	From 1 April 2026
Chief Justice	R3,376,765	R3,511,836
Deputy Chief Justice	R3,039,009	R3,160,569
Constitutional Court judge	R2,701,451	R2,809,509
High Court judge	R2,194,917	R2,282,713

Source: the Remuneration Commission's 2026/27 recommendations in the Government Gazette.

How was the increase decided?

The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers makes yearly recommendations, and the President decides. The Presidency said Ramaphosa also considered "serious economic challenges facing the country" (The Presidency).

According to the commission's memorandum, the finance minister asked for political office bearers to be capped at 3.4%, in line with Treasury's inflation forecast, while the Chief Justice argued for 4% for judges (Government Gazette).

How does it compare to last year?

The 3.5% is lower than the 3.8% ministers and MPs got for 2025/26 (Daily Investor).

FAQ

How much do MPs earn in South Africa in 2026/27?

An ordinary member of the National Assembly earns R1,373,230 a year after the 3.5% increase, up from R1,326,792.

What is a minister's salary in 2026/27?

Cabinet ministers earn R2,898,233 a year, up R98,008 from R2,800,225.

When does the public office bearer increase take effect?

It is effective from 1 April 2026, so it is backdated, even though it was announced on 10 November 2026.