The 5% raise was recommended by the Independent Commission on the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers in January and came before the National Assembly for approval this afternoon.
It will see Zuma’s salary increase by just over R130 000, meaning he’ll now be earning just over R2.7 million a year.
Nkandla and the dismal state of the economy loomed large as opposition parties opposed the move.
The Democratic Alliance (DA)’s Mmusi Maimane said, “I oppose this motion. I don’t believe the president must get an increase and I think this house must take a strong stance and hold him accountable for this economy going in the wrong direction and for his benefits at Nkandla.”
EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu said, “We feed him, we dress him, we pay for his legal fees. We even build a cattle kraal for him, we even build a chicken run for him.”
