Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has decided to implement a 7 percent salary increase across the board for public office bearers.
The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers had on Thursday recommended an 8 percent salary increase for political public office bearers.
But the Presidency said after due consideration of the recommendations, taking into account the factors raised by the commission, President Zuma opted to implement a 7 percent salary adjustment.
"We appreciate the considerations applied by the commission in determining the 2009/10 remuneration for public office bearers," Zuma said.
"In light of the current economic situation, and the pressure on government finances, I have decided to adjust downwards the percentage recommended by the commission," he added.
Zuma commended the commission for the thorough manner in which it had approached its work, and reiterated the importance of its independence.
The commission is a statutory body obliged by the Constitution to make annual recommendations relating to salaries, benefits and allowances required by public office bearers to enable them to perform their respective duties effectively.
