Public Service and Administration Minister Mzamo Buthelezi has announced a salary adjustment for public servants, effective from 1 April 2026, as part of a multi-year wage agreement.
The increase applies to employees on salary levels 1 to 12, as well as those under Occupation Specific Dispensations, and forms part of the 2026/27 financial year framework.
According to the Department of Public Service and Administration, the adjustment amounts to a 4% increase, exceeding the projected inflation rate of 3.4% outlined by National Treasury.
Officials said the above-inflation increase is supported by a built-in “floor” mechanism within the agreement, ensuring that wage adjustments do not fall below a set minimum even when inflation forecasts are lower.
The increase gives effect to Resolution 1 of 2025, adopted by the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council, which sets out a structured approach to wage adjustments over several years.
The adjustment will also be pensionable, meaning it will contribute to retirement benefits for qualifying employees.
However, the increase does not apply to all public sector workers. Excluded groups include senior management (salary levels 13 to 16), as well as sector-specific employees such as police, educators, defence force members, correctional services staff and employees of the National Prosecuting Authority. Their salary adjustments are expected to be addressed through separate processes.
Additional measures linked to the wage agreement include pay progression for qualifying employees from July 2026, alignment of intern stipends with new salary scales, and revised rates for casual and sessional workers in sectors such as healthcare and social services.
Government says the agreement aims to balance fiscal constraints with the need to support public servants amid rising living costs.
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