Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2 min read | 13:07 pm CAT

Government and public servants are on a collision course after the Public Servants Association announced that its members seem to be leaning towards rejecting its latest wage offer. The government tabled a final proposal of a 3% pensionable salary adjustment for employees on levels one to 12 and the cash gratuity of R1,000 per month until the end of March next year.

The government argues that it can’t afford wage increases, and there is an effort to cut the wage bill.

A spokesperson for the PSA, Reuben Maleka, told Radio Islam International although the government states it cannot afford the increase, their behaviour is different.

According to Reuben, the public servants with the high rate of repo rate increase means there are debts that need to be repaid through loans. This includes houses and cars that will not be affordable as the repo rate increases and salaries remain the same.

He says it underestimates that trust has been lost in the government and leaders.

Adding, “The past three years under the leadership of Ramaphosa, we’ve never received anything. In fact, he has taken away what we had in terms of the resolution 1 of 2018.”

Reuben’s rejection of the 3 per cent increase and R1000 gratuity said the government has to rethink the offer.

He stated that the R1000 gratuity had made a difference in the lives of public servants daily.

If the government intends to take it away, most public servants will encounter severe hardship living without this money.

“Should government not revise their offer, we are left with no option but to give 7 days’ notice.”

Listen to the interview below on Radio Islam’s podcast.