Opposition parties have for the first time since 1994 strongly objected to the salary increase of a sitting president. MPs yesterday shouted in objection to an ANC motion confirming that President Jacob Zuma would receive a salary increase of about 5%, taking his total remuneration to R2.7-million a year.Zuma almost didn't get the increase. The ANC just managed to scrape together enough votes, with 203 voting in favour and 88 voting against.Had more than two ANC MPs been absent from the sitting, the opposition could have staged a walkout, making it impossible to get the increase approved. Sittings need a quorum of 201.This increase now means Zuma will receive about R100000 in back payments, as his salary increases from R2.62-million.Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa's salary will increase from R2.47-million to R2.6-million, while ministers will get R2.21-million a year, up from R2.1-million.Deputy ministers' salaries increase from R1.73-million to R1.82-million a year.Freedom Front Plus MP Corné Mulder said yesterday's procedure was supposed to be a "mere formality"."It's been that case since 1994. The independent commission for the remuneration of public office bearers makes a determination and the president then accepts that, and then it would be gazetted."The house then comes together as a formality. Now the question is, today, for the first time in 21 years we have objection to this motion?"The mere fact that we have objections should indicate to us that there's a problem," said Mulder.He said Zuma stood in front of MPs in parliament last week and "mocked the electorate" with regard to Nkandla.Mulder put forward a motion that Zuma's salary be revised to R1.EFF chief whip Floyd Shivambu joined Mulder in his objection, saying the country had already paid for the Zuma family's needs."The EFF stands here to reject with contempt the request of Mr Zuma to receive a salary increase."As taxpayers, government and parliament, we pay for everything else Zuma does. We pay for everything that Zuma does."We feed him, we dress him, we pay his legal fees. We even pay for his cattle kraal," said Shivambu.DA leader Mmusi Maimane said Zuma already "incurs many costs to the state"."More seriously, President Jacob Zuma, we've already given him a 100-year advance on his salary when we allow him to stay in the house in Nkandla that was built for R200-million."I oppose this motion and don't think he deserves any increase," said Maimane.The ACDP and COPE also objected to the increase.The African People's Convention's Themba Godi was the only opposition MP who voted in favour of the motion.ANC parliamentary spokesman Moloto Mothapo defended the increase."Since taking office in 2009 the president has been sensitive to our people's social and economic conditions, opting on various occasions for salary increases below those recommended by the commission. For instance, in the year that he came into office (2009) the commission recommended 8% but he reduced it to 7%; in 2010 the commission recommended 7% but he decided against it and substantially lowered it to 5%; and in 2013 the commission recommended 7% but the president decided totally against - opting for no increase at all," said Mothapo...