This salary increase has created joy for public-sector workers throughout the country. This publication follows months of negotiations between public service unions and the Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), with regard to inflation and remuneration of essential workers for their services rendered.
How Much Is the Increase?
Legally, there is a statement that the salary processing may go up to 7.5%, depending on salary bands or types of employment. Lower-salaried workers and frontline workers such as nurses, policemen, teachers, or even administrative workers are expected to obtain the best treatment from the new wages structure. The major pay increases are divided as follows:
Baseline salary increase of 3.5% for everyone
- Cash gratuity of 4% (non-pensionable) for some lower bands
- Performance-based adjustments for some categories
The increase should be apparent from the July 2025 payslip, with backpay still off the table as the increase was budgeted only from the 2025/26 fiscal year.
Who Qualifies?
The raise shall be given to all employees in national and provincial government services, including health, education, police, home affairs, and so on. Employees of SOEs are not afforded this benefit per se; some of them may, however, receive increases outside of this based on their own internal negotiations.
Conditions of Receiving the Increase:
- On the government’s payroll as a permanent employee
- Should have been employed on or before 1 July 2025
- Contractual staff may be considered for review in special cases.
Why the increase?
One reason is to check inflation and its spillover effects into workers’ morale. The disgruntled population feels even more bearing as the wages have flatlined for all these years. With inflation, as defined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), running at roughly 5.8%, the increase could just possibly be one valid intervention to keep the purchasing power of public servants intact.
What to Expect Now?
Employees are advised to check their payslips in late July for the adjustment. Those left out of the adjustment should approach their HR or payroll department. Public sector unions have called for full transparency and accountability in the rollout.
Also Read:SASSA Pension Hike 2025: Steps To Claim R5,000 And Verify Payment