According to the latest information from the National Treasury, South African public servants in 2024 are earning well above the average national salary. As reported by Business Tech, South African public servants in 2024 earn an average salary of R41 000 per month.
Startlingly, this figure surpasses the national average in both the public and private sector – of R27 000 – by a wholesome R14 000 or 34%. That means South African public servants in 2024 earned one-third more than those doing the equivalent in gainful private-sector employment. This massive wage disparity was highlighted in the treasury’s 2024 Compensation and Employment data. And is concerning due to the ongoing scourge of poor service delivery in the country …
SOUTH AFRICAN PUBLIC SERVANTS IN 2024
Of course, none of this is new. As far back as 2019, average government salaries have consistently exceeded the national average. The National Treasury attributes this noticeable gap between public and national wages to attract and retain skilled professionals. The national government has suffered from a well-publicised critical skills shortage in management, healthcare, education, social welfare and security.
While South African public servants could always rely on approximately R10 000 extra working for government, it is the broad array of benefits added over the years that are even more tempting. The likes of pensions, medical aid, housing and car subsidies, annual bonuses and allowances all contribute to cushy government packages.
MORE WORRYING STATS
Furthermore, South African public servants in 2024 actually ranked in the top 10% of all income earners in the country. While formally employed non-agricultural workers earn just an average of R27 000 per month. This has led to an unsustainable public-sector wage bill that now commands a significant slice of the national budget annually.
The wage bill currently sits at 32% of government spending. And policymakers need till 2028 to bring this figure down by a mere 1% to 31% as part of broader fiscal consolidation. Treasury has acknowledged that continuous wage adjustments have placed further strain on the national budget.
WORKFORCE OPTIMISATION
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says lowering these costs is essential to help redirect resources toward critical sectors such as infrastructure, healthcare and education. So, to this end, government will initiate a ‘workforce optimisation plan’ in 2025 to force early retirement for eligible public servants.
“Cabinet has approved an early-retirement program to reduce government-employment costs. We hope to retain critical skills and also promote the entry of younger talent into public service,” said the minister. Only time will tell if this strategy to address the wage bill will suffice or further impact the country’s service-delivery woes.
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