The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has slammed the announcement and says it is a slap in the face of government service workers.
This is because government service workers like teachers, nurses and police officers were told the state could not afford to honour a previously agreed-upon salary increase. Click Here For More About The Wage Dispute
Michael Shingange, Cosatu's Deputy President says government and politicians have convinced public service workers that they do not deserve a salary increase but have given themselves a bump in pay.
“It's only when the nurses and the doctors and the teachers and the cleaners in hospitals and clinics and Home Affairs are demanding a cost of living adjustment that we get to hear what the society has been told that actually, the public wage bill is too high,” argued Shingange.
Reuben Maleka from the Public Servants Association (PSA) said it was ironic that judges will receive a 3% increase in their salaries while legal proceedings found that the government is not obliged to grant public service workers an increase on the grounds of unaffordability.
He called on public office bearers, including judges, to do the honourable thing and reject the approved three percent by the president to show cause and support of the crucial judgement of 28 February to the public
Maleka says that parliamentarians and public office bearers have access to a wide range of benefits including free housing and medical aid, which is separate from their at least R1.17 million per annum salary.
He adds that the PSA will write to Ramaphosa to reconsider the adjustment and warned that South Africa could see the biggest public service strike if a solution is not found.
New Government Workers Salaries
