As he nears the end of his final term in office, President Jacob Zuma’s turn as South Africa’s number one continues to be scrutinised.
From his controversial dealings with the Gupta family, to his Nkandla “security upgrade” scandal, South Africans and the world alike are watching how he conducts his business, now more than ever.
With his financial standing in apparent disarray (he has to “pay back the money”), more people are interested in how much money the President actually makes.
Generally, countries with the highest GDP per capita often have the best-paid leaders. What is surprising then is how President Jacob Zuma’s salary lands him on the list of some of the highest paid leaders in the world.
President Jacob Zuma’s salary currently stands at R2.87 million annually, which amounts to R7863 per day.
To put things further into perspective: President Jacob Zuma’s salary costs South African taxpayers 27 times what Americans pay for Obama.
According to data compiled by media house Africa Review, South African President, Jacob Zuma is the third-highest paid leader on the African continent. According to the findings, President Zuma earns 22.72 times more than the average citizen in the country.
Zuma’s pay is a staggering $638.15 a year for each $1bn of the South African economy.
Earlier in 2016, Zuma’s salary increase garnered a lot of negative attention. The increase was approved in March 2016, by the National Assembly, despite vehement opposition.
The Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers recommended a 5% salary increase. This was then debated in Parliament and then submitted to a vote.
In February 2016, President Zuma increased the salaries of political office bearers across the country by 4.4 %. In turn, 172 Members of Parliament voted in favour of an increase of the President’s salary, while 81 voted against it.