How much has government workers received in bonuses over the years?

While social grant recipients saw a miserly 4.8% increase in 2024, here’s how many billions in bonuses government workers received over the past five years. The billions in bonuses for government workers came to light in a recent parliamentary Q&A session, reports Business Tech.

Taking the form of performance bonuses and thirteenth cheques – equal to one month’s salary and paid on an employee’s birthday – more than R3 billion in incentives has been paid out to government employees. This is according Public Service and Administration Minister Noxolo Kiviet.

BILLIONS IN BONUSES GOVERNMENT WORKERS

All the while, Mzansi’s neediest citizens receive below-inflation increases to their South African Social Security Agency grants. The poorest can no longer afford to keep food on the table (6.2% food inflation), pay for chronic medication or afford electricity to keep the power on (12.8% Eskom tariff hike).

All the while, a Sunday Times report reveals the magnitude of the billions in bonuses government workers have been receiving. According to their research, between 2019 and 2024, R726 million went towards staff performance rewards. And provincial administration bonuses totalled R2.2 billion over the five-year period.

EVEN DURING COVID-19

Perhaps most damning is the fact that in 2021, as tens of thousands lost their jobs and the economy stagnated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, provinces still paid out R819 million in bonuses. Moreover, R128 million was paid to 400 government officials who were on suspension for fraud, corruption and other grievances. The tally of misspent money only grows, as R42 million went towards 56 luxury vehicles for 23 ministers and their deputies.

Ironically enough, government workers have been failing to earn their performance bonuses. Although would you worry about performance if you had a thirteenth birthday cheque coming your way? The state noted that 218 792 employees earned performance bonuses back in 2018. But just 3 767 reached their performance targets in 2024. Kiviet said performance bonuses are only awarded based on audit outcomes of a government department.

GOVERNMENT BAILOUTS

No coincidence then that Eskom has reported losses of R54.6 billion over that period. And the South African Post Office’s (SAPO’s) accumulated loss totals R6.8 billion. Don’t forget to add on Transnet’s net loss of R9.4 billion over the same period. All told, since 2020, the following state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have squandered R325 billion: Eskom, Transnet, South African Airways (SAA), the South African Post Office, the Land Bank, and Denel.