Government employees in South Africa receive higher median salaries compared to their private sector counterparts, with a monthly median salary of R46 000 in the public sector versus R26 000 in the private sector. The data from the National Treasury indicates that the number of government employees earning over R1 million per year has increased by 450%, from just above 10 000 in 2013/2014 to over 55 000 in 2023/2024. The government employee wage bill has also surged from R408 billion in 2013/2014 to R724 billion in 2023/2024. The Treasury attributes this significant increase to government determinations, collective bargaining agreements and periodic reviews to align with economic conditions and government priorities. Another 180 000 employees earn between R600 000 and R1 million per annum, while almost half of all 1.3 million government employees earn over R350 000 per year. In addition, the majority of public sector unions agreed to a 7.5% wage increase in 2023, costing the Treasury an additional R23.6 billion.
