Huge pay hikes recommended for judiciary

The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers is developing a framework for performance-based remuneration for those who hold public office and wants public office bearers to be paid according to how well they perform, possibly from as early as next year, notes the Sunday Times. The new framework will be finalised in the next 12 months, according to commission chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke. He recommended hefty salary increases for the country’s top politicians, as well as judges and magistrates, among others. ‘I am concerned about performance issues among judges, parliamentarians and the executive,’ said Moseneke. ‘(But) for starters, we had to deal with issues of parity.’ Some of the issues that will be tackled by the nine-member commission in its new study will include matters such as medical aid and pension benefits for the country’s politicians, for members of the judiciary and for traditional leaders. Full Sunday Times report