Public office bearers may get 5% hike

Pretoria - A 5% increase in total remuneration packages of all public office bearers has been recommended, the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers announced on Friday.

The salaries for the 2011/2012 financial year would be backdated to April, commission chairperson Judge Willie Seriti said in Pretoria.

Seriti said the basis for the percentage increase was informed by Consumer Price Index trends, affordability, national market trends including the private and public sector, and consultation with relevant parties.

The proposed increase was less than the 7% approved by President Jacob Zuma in the 2010/11 fiscal year.

The commission has already handed the recommendations to Parliament and to Zuma who was expected to make a final pronouncement sometime next week.

The increase would lift Zuma's salary from R2 367 466 to R2 345 839, and Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe's to R2 237 308 from R2 130 769.