Zuma’s successor could earn close to R4-million

23 February 2017 - 19:00 By Roxanne Henderson
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South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma (right) and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. The jury is out on whether Ramaphosa will break ranks.
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma (right) and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. The jury is out on whether Ramaphosa will break ranks.
Image: Mike Hutchings/Reuters

National Treasury anticipates that President Jacob Zuma's successor may earn almost R4-million when he or she takes office.

It is estimated that in 2019/20 the presidential package will amount to R3.4-million‚ with an average growth rate of 6.1% over the next three years.

These were among the budgetary projections tabled in Parliament this week when Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan delivered his budget speech.

Zuma currently rakes in R3.3-million in total – including several allowances. The president takes home almost R2.9-million. There was no increase in the president's salary this year.

Next year‚ however‚ the presidential package is projected to grow to R3.4-million and to R3.6-million in 2018/19.

By the time Zuma's successor steps into power‚ he or she may be earning a package of up to 18% more than the president currently earns.

These figures are subject to change under budgetary review processes.

The deputy president's package is projected to grow to R3.3-million in 2019/20 from R2.8-million in 2016/17.

Deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa is one of the favourites earmarked to succeed Zuma‚ along with Zuma's former wife Nkosasana Dlamini-Zuma.

National Treasury's expenditure analysis for the Presidency notes that money has been allocated in the projected medium-term budget for the implementation of an e-Cabinet electronic document management system.

The Presidency's spending on legal services is expected to increase from almost R3.8-million this year to R5.5-million in 2019/20. The projected expenditure on consultants is up to over R11-million in 2019/20 from R7.5-million this year.

An estimated budget R209‚000 has been allocated to entertainment in 2019/20 from R149‚000 this year.

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