The most recent National Treasury 2024/2025 expenditure report offers a clear look at how much South Africa’s expanded Government of National Unity (GNU) costs taxpayers.
Here’s how much the GNU costs taxpayers
The document, tabled on 29 November 2024, outlines salary allocations for the president, deputy president, ministers, deputy ministers, and other public officials.
The Treasury filing shows that R8.3 million has been allocated to cover the combined salaries of the president and deputy president for the financial year.
For the broader parliamentary category, which includes ministers, deputy ministers, and MPs, the Treasury set aside R542.9 million under “Members’ Remuneration.”
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This figure encompasses salaries for all public office bearers within the legislative and executive branches.
The latest remuneration adjustments were approved earlier this year when President Cyril Ramaphosa implemented a 2.5% salary increase for public office bearers, retroactive to April 2024.
This increase brought the annual earnings of Cabinet ministers to R2.69 million, while deputy ministers now earn R2.22 million annually.
These salaries, which fall under the broader parliamentary remuneration allocation, form part of the expenses needed to sustain the GNU’s expanded executive structure.
A bloated government or a necessary investment in a progressive SA?
The Government of National Unity, established after the 2024 national elections, saw an increase in executive positions, with the Cabinet growing to 32 ministers and 43 deputy ministers.
This expansion is the consequence of the political compromise made to accommodate coalition partners within the GNU.
Maintaining the expanded executive comes with additional operational costs, such as support staff, official vehicles, and other expenses, contributing to the R239 million allocation for the 2025/2026 fiscal year as reported earlier.
Apart from the executive, the Treasury filing also made allocations for the judiciary, with R3.38 billion set aside for judges’ and magistrates’ salaries.
Judicial pay, determined by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers, is typically higher to ensure independence and prevent external influence on the judicial system.
The Treasury’s figures, at the very least, provide a framework for understanding the cost of leadership, as South Africa balances fiscal priorities amidst economic pressures.
