President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to grant all public office bearers including ministers, MPs and judges a 3% salary increase has been labelled as tone deaf and embarrassing.

Trade union federation, Cosatu says the president should have rejected the proposed increase by the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office-Bearers. It adds that what is more galling is that President Ramaphosa chose to ignore Treasury’s recommendation for a lower increase of 1.5%.

The salary hike comes at a time when South Africa’s working class is struggling against the rising cost of living. Cosatu says it’s time political leaders and office bearers show some solidarity with the suffering masses, noting that load shedding, the rising cost of living, corruption and a stagnant economy have all happened under their watch.

Cosatu has called for the terms of reference of the commission to be changed so that it must consult with the public and not only members of Cabinet who it says have a direct conflict of interest in its recommendations.