Wednesday 22 January 2014

Zille and her provincial cabinet say no thanks to pay hike

helenzilleAndisiwe Makinana reports that Western Cape Premier Helen Zille and her entire provincial Cabinet have declined salary increases, saying they were sticking to the recommendations of the independent commission for the remuneration of public office bearers.  President Jacob Zuma, who also did not take a pay hike in the 2013/14 period, ignored a recommendation from the commission not to increase salaries of politicians earning R1m and above.  Zille told the Mail & Guardian on Tuesday that she had taken a personal decision not to accept the pay hike and, on Wednesday, she revealed that the provincial Cabinet had unanimously taken a decision to abide by the commission's recommendation.  Zille said she was merely complying with the recommendation that people at a certain salary level should not take increases this year.  "I agree with this recommendation, at a time of austerity, but in addition I think we should respect these institutions, which are established for a reason," she stated.  Zuma signed a proclamation on 3 January that effectively increased the salaries of public office bearers by 5%, backdated to April last year.

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