Category: MIL-OSI

South Africa’s National Minimum Wage (NMW) is set to rise from R28.79 to R30.23 for each ordinary hour worked, with effect from 1 March 2026, helping stretched workers bring home a little more bacon.

Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth announced the R1.44 upward adjustment in the NMW in early February, saying it will benefit all workers, including vulnerable farm workers and domestic workers. 

The NMW is the floor which an employer is legally obligated to remunerate employees for work done. 

“In 2019, when we introduced the minimum wage at R20 an hour, there were about six million workers in the economy who were earning below R20 an hour. Therefore, that six million workers were transferred into a higher level by the minimum wage,” the Department of Employment and Labour’s (DEL) Acting Deputy-Director-General (DDG) for Labour Policy and Industrial Relations, Thembinkosi Mkalipi said.

In an interview with SAnews.gov.za, Mkalipi said the NMW has met and “even surpassed inflation.” 

“We have been able to protect the minimum wage against inflation,” said the Acting DDG.

The National Minimum Wage Act came into effect in 2019 with the purpose of advancing economic development and social justice by improving the wages of the lowest paid workers; protecting the workers from unreasonably low wages; as well as preserving the value on the NMW. The purpose of the Act is also aimed at supporting the country’s economic policy and promoting collective bargaining.

While applying to all workers and their employers, the Act does not apply to members of the South African National Defence Force, the National Intelligence Agency and the South African Secret Service. It also does not apply to a volunteer, who is a person who performs work for another person and who does not receive or is not entitled to receive, any remuneration for his or her service. 

The DEL added that no employee shall be paid below the National Minimum Wage, adding that it cannot be varied by contract, collective agreement or law. It also added that it is unfair labour practice for an employer to unilaterally alter hours of work or other conditions of employment in implementing the NMW.
Since it came into effect, the minimum wage has been subject to an annual review.

Compliance and exemption
“There are 40% of employers out there who are not complying with the minimum wage. That 40-60 split has been consistent since 2019,” he said.

He flagged affordability and the insufficient number of departmental inspectors as possible reasons for non-compliance with the minimum wage.

“It could be the issue of affordability but at the same time, there’s an exemption process. An employer who cannot afford the minimum wage can apply for exemption and the process is quick and easy,” he said.
He further stated that there are limits for the exemption.

“You cannot get, I think, more than 10% below the minimum wage through exemption. Maybe they [employers] believe that applying for exemption does not give them that. We don’t have enough inspectors. Even if we had enough inspectors, there’s no way that we are going to have an inspector for each and every work establishment and they [employers] know that. 

“Some employers prefer to take the risk. As you know that running a business is taking a risk. They are prepared to take a calculated risk and say: ‘what are the chances that an inspector will visit my factory?”.
He added that if employers believe that the chances of being caught are low; there is no incentive for employers to comply with the minimum wage.

“Those are the issues that we think affect that [compliance]; the capacity of the department in terms of numbers of inspectors; the willingness of employers to comply with the law and the attitude that says: ‘catch me if you can’  – because they believe that they might not be caught,” he explained.

In the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on 12 February 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that an additional 10 000 labour inspectors would be hired this year. 

Minister Meth welcomed the President’s pronouncement saying it “will significantly strengthen our capacity to enforce compliance with labour legislation, protect vulnerable workers and ensure fair labour practices across all sectors of the economy.”

This as the DEL currently has about 2 300 labour inspectors nationwide. In addition, in 2025 the department launched the Project 20K, a national initiative to recruit and place 20 000 graduate interns across South Africa’s public sector between 2025 and 2027. 

Exemption process 
Employers who cannot afford the minimum wage can seek relief through the online exemption process.

“The exemption operates online. Any employer that cannot afford the National Minimum Wage can apply for exemption. When you apply for exemption as an employer then you must give information. The system analyses affordability on the basis of the figures and information you have given. The system then gives you, or not, an exemption.

“If you get an exemption, you get a certificate of exemption that indicates that. Then you pay below the minimum wage because you received an exemption. It is a process that does not take long. There’s no human being involved in it – precisely because we don’t want inspectors to ask for brown envelopes,” said Mkalipi.

The NMW Act makes provision for an employer or an employer’s organisation, acting on behalf of its members, to apply for exemption through regulations that make provision for the form and manner in which exemptions must be made. For example, information to be submitted, obligations on employers to consult, criteria when evaluating and the period within which and application must be made.

To make use of the exemption process, an application must be lodged through the NMW system online (https://nmw.labour.gov.za/) by following procedures as prompted by the system.

For businesses, applicants must provide the most recent annual financial statements with comparatives and private households must provide an income statement and employees working hours and wage information, among others.

Job deterrent or not?
Asked about whether the National Minimum Wage is a deterrent to job creation, Mkalipi said the wage does not cause workers to lose their jobs. This, as research contracted to a University of Cape Town unit has looked at the impact of the wage.

“On the process of reviewing the minimum wage, we do research [through] a unit within the University of Cape Town. They have looked at what has been the effect of the NMW. When we review the NMW next year, they are going to tell us what the effect of this [current] increase has been. Was it negative to employment, did it cause unemployment or not? Every research says the same thing; there’s no evidence that the NMW affects employment. The research is done independently, not by the department.

“If your question is yes, the National Minimum Wage does not cause workers to be dismissed and retrenched, but does it cause employers not to employ workers? That research we can’t do because we only do research on what were the effects. 

“We don’t have research that says the National Minimum Wage prevents employers from employing; but we’ve got research that says the NMW does not cause people to lose their jobs. That’s what research tells us… we cannot say that the NMW has caused unemployment in the sense that people lost their jobs. Research does not say that,” he explained.

The department has a five-year contract with the university and the unit is currently looking at Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) data.

“The Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) report influences the research that they do. They look at the figures of three [of the four] quarters. They are already busy with the research now to give information for the review that will come in 2027,” Mkalipi said.

The QLFS collects information on the labour market activity of individuals aged 15 years and older and provides the official measures of employment and unemployment. 

Earnings
With effect from 1 March 2026, those working eight hour days will earn R241.84 a day (R30.23 multiplied by eight) and will amount to R1209.20 in a five day week.

“It depends on the hours worked; in terms of the minimum wage, nobody can be paid less than four hours. Even if you work one hour, in terms of the law you must be paid for four hours.”

On whether employers have the right to deduct payment from employees for issues like accommodation and food, Mkalipi said employers are not allowed to deduct more than a third of a worker’s salary.

“Whatever deduction that they make, that’s the first thing. The second thing is that yes, if there’s an agreement between the two parties that, ‘I will provide you with accommodation and my accommodation costs this amount, I will provide you with food and my food costs X amount,’ as long as it is not more than a third, you can make the deduction.”

Strengthening compliance
Mkalipi is hopeful that with an increased number of inspectors, compliance with the NMW will receive a boost.

“We are hoping that with more capacity coming in, while it’s going to take some time, [with] the enforcement taking place, employers will see that the risk is not worth taking because it’s all about risk management” he said. 

The Acting DDG called on other employers who may have knowledge of other employers that do not pay the minimum wage to come forward and name them, saying are “undercutting them (competitors) in the market by not paying the minimum wage.”

“The department alone is not going to be able to solve this. You need employers, trade unions, and employees themselves to assist by bringing the information and saying ‘in our company we are not getting the minimum wage’, so that inspectors inspect those companies where there’s already intelligence indicating they’re not paying,” he said.

On what measures the department can take in terms of employers not toeing the line with regards to the minimum wage, the DDG said: “There’s nothing that the department can do other than implement the law and apply the penalties provided in the law when those employers are caught.  For us we have to increase the number of inspectors and levy the fines provided for in the law for those who are not compliant.”

Enforcement of the National Minimum Wage
According to the Act, there are two enforcement procedures for the enforcement of the NMW.

A labour inspector may secure an undertaking from the employer to comply with the provisions of the NMW Act. If an employer fails to comply with the written undertaking within the time period specified in the undertaking, the Director-General: Labour may request the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to make a written undertaking an arbitration award. 

The second procedure is one where a labour inspector may issue a compliance order if he/she has reasonable grounds to believe that the employer has failed to comply with the provisions of the NMW Act. The order may be issued in terms of section 69(1) of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has welcomed the 2026 increase of inflation plus 1.5% (5% in total or R1.44) for the minimum wage saying it is a “progressive above-inflation increase.”
And while it is true that the cost of living continues to stretch the purse strings of many South Africans, the existence of the NMW helps to keep many from falling into a financial abyss. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has notched a victory against State Capture with the conviction and sentencing of former Member of Parliament, Vincent Smith.

The Johannesburg High Court sentenced Smith to seven years’ direct imprisonment after the former lawmaker agreed to a plea and sentence agreement with the State.

Smith was accused of accepting gratifications from controversial security company, BOSASA, in the form of security upgrades to his home.

He also allegedly accepted money transfers – through his company, Euroblitz 48 – in exchange for shielding the company from scrutiny while he was chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services.

“The conviction relates to the corruption and fraud charges in his personal capacity, as well as in his capacity as a sole director and shareholder of Euroblitz 48 — which he failed to disclosed to the Registrar of parliamentary members’ interest — the gratification that he received from BOSASA, pursuant to the corrupt activities that he [Smith], Euroblitz 48 and Agrizzi were charged for.

“He further failed to disclose the taxable income of Euroblitz 48 between March 2009 and July 2018, totalling approximately R28 million.

“Charges against Euroblitz 48 were, however, withdrawn,” the NPA said in a statement.

Smith pleaded guilty to charges, including contravention of Section 7 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Tax Act.

“He was subsequently sentenced to 12 years on each of the counts, with each suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit similar offences during the suspension period. He will effectively spend seven years in prison for his actions.

“Judge Mohamed Ismail presided over the matter and accepted the plea and sentence agreement in terms of Sec 105A of the Criminal Procedure Act, as presented by the State and confirmed by Smith on record.

“He remarked on the considerations he had to make, especially that the accused was a lawmaker entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that the laws of the country are upheld. He described corruption as a scourge that has reached alarming levels and needs to be addressed decisively,” the statement continued.

National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andy Mothibi, said: “In as much as the trial took longer than anticipated to be finalised, the wheels of justice finally got in motion and the rule of law upheld. I commend the prosecution team involved in the matter.” – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli has called for a decisive shift from symbolic commitments to tangible action in advancing gender equality, saying policies must translate into measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls.

Delivering remarks during the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) debate marking International Women’s Day, Mhlauli urged government and society to move beyond declarations and focus on practical implementation.

“We must move from commemoration to implementation; from promises to measurable outcomes. From policy intent to lived reality,” she said on Wednesday.

The Deputy Minister emphasised that tackling gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) requires confronting harmful social norms and the role of male socialisation in perpetuating violence.

“We must also speak plainly about the role of men and boys. We cannot build a future without confronting the socialisation that produces violence, entitlement, and control.

‘The justice system itself acknowledges programmes that focus on positively changing the attitudes of men and boys in areas with high levels of violence against women. This is not optional work. It is prevention,” Mhlauli said.

She said boys must be guided towards a vision of masculinity grounded in respect, responsibility and accountability.

“To the boy child, we must say: your strength is not dominance. It is discipline. It is respect. It is accountability. It is the courage to reject peer pressure, to reject violence, and to protect the dignity of women and girls in your home, your school, your community, and online,” the Deputy Minister said.

She urged men in positions of influence, including fathers, brothers, coaches, faith leaders, traditional leaders and community leaders, to actively challenge violence against women.

“To fathers, brothers, coaches, faith leaders, traditional leaders and community leaders, we must say: silence is not neutrality. Silence is permission.

“If we are serious about ending GBVF, then positive masculinity must become a societal norm, not a campaign for 16 days,” Mhlauli said.

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is an annual international campaign running from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day).

The Deputy Minister referenced the G20 Empowerment of Women Working Group Chairperson’s Statement of 31 October 2025, which highlighted the importance of the care economy and women’s financial inclusion.

“The statement places the care economy and financial inclusion at the centre of women’s empowerment and recognises the importance of shared social responsibility for caregiving, including encouraging the active engagement of men and boys in care work,” she said.

According to Mhlauli, women’s unequal share of unpaid care burden remains one of the most significant barriers to their economic participation.

“This is deeply aligned with our domestic reality: women carry disproportionate unpaid care burdens, and that burden is an economic constraint. If we want women to participate equally in the economy, we must invest in care infrastructure, remove barriers to women’s access to finance, and recognise that economic justice is a form of violence prevention,” she said.

70th anniversary of historic women’s march

Mhlauli said South Africa will this year mark the 70th anniversary of the historic women’s march of 9 August 1956 when thousands of women including mothers, workers, organisers and leaders, marched to the Union Buildings to declare that they would not accept injustice.

“Their message is not only history. It is instruction. It tells us that courage is collective, and that rights are defended through action. 

“We must strengthen access to justice, not only by improving laws, but by fixing the system: faster case processing, safer courts, better survivor support, integrated data, and accountable consequences for perpetrators.

“We must strengthen access to justice not only by improving laws, but by fixing the system – faster case processing, safer courts, better survivor support, integrated data and accountable consequences for perpetrators,” the Deputy Minister said.

Economic empowerment must also be backed by real opportunities for women entrepreneurs, including access to procurement, finance, and markets.

She added that prevention must remain a central pillar in addressing gender-based violence by reshaping community values and promoting respectful relationships.

“We must strengthen prevention not only by protecting women and girls, but by actively shaping the values of boys and men and rebuilding communities that refuse violence as normal,” she said.

Mhlauli stressed that achieving meaningful progress will require collaboration across all sectors of society. “We must do so together, national government, provinces, municipalities, civil society, business, labour, communities and households.” – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, has called for renewed global commitment to peace and decisive action to enforce existing protections for women.

Speaking at the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) debate in commemoration of International Women’s Day, Mhlauli warned that without stability and political will, gender equality will remain out of reach.

“We must be unequivocal in our call for peace. Peace is not an abstract diplomatic ideal. It is the foundation upon which women are able to live safely, to participate economically, to raise families without fear, and to contribute meaningfully to society.

“Where there is no peace, there can be no justice for women. Where there is no stability, empowerment becomes an empty promise,” Mhlauli said on Wednesday. 

The debate was held under the theme: “Recentering Social Justice and Human Rights for Women and Girls”.

While acknowledging the policy and legal frameworks that exist globally, which are designed to advance gender equality, Mhlauli said their impact is weakened by inconsistent enforcement and insufficient political commitment.

“Yes, policy and legal frameworks exist. They are in place through the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, the Beijing Platform for Action, the AU Agenda 2063, and our own South African Constitution. 

“What has wavered is not the law but the political will to enforce it, to fund it, and to live by it,” the Deputy Minister said.

According to Mhlauli, the real measure of progress lies not in policy declarations but in the everyday realities experienced by women and girls.

“The real test is not how well we can recite these conventions but whether a woman can walk home safely. Whether a survivor can access justice without being retraumatised. Whether a girl child can learn without fear. Whether a woman-owned enterprise can access markets, finance and procurement without being blocked by old networks and gatekeeping.”

As the global community marks Beijing+30, commemorating three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action, Mhlauli said the moment required honest reflection.

She acknowledged that important gains have been achieved globally, including reductions in maternal mortality, improved enrolment of girls in schools and increased representation of women in legislatures.

But, she said the progress is fragile, uneven, and in many parts of the world, it is reversing.

Mhlauli highlighted the devastating toll conflicts are taking on women and girls in regions such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Palestine and parts of the Middle East.

“In these theatres of war and political upheaval, it is women and girls who bear the heaviest burden. They are displaced from their homes, stripped of access to education and healthcare, subjected to violence, and denied even the most basic forms of dignity.

“Conflict does not only destroy infrastructure. It erodes the social fabric that protects women. It turns their bodies into battlegrounds and their rights into collateral damage, Mhlauli said.

South Africa, she said, maintains a principled position in support of peaceful resolution of conflicts, dialogue over destruction, and the protection of civilians, particularly women and children.

“We affirm that the empowerment of women must extend to every sphere of life political, social, and economic. Women must not only survive conflict; they must be included in peacebuilding, reconstruction, and governance processes. Sustainable peace is only possible when women are present at negotiation tables and in leadership structures shaping the future,” she said. – SAnews.gov.za

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has urged students with pending appeals to submit all outstanding documents before the appeals window closes on 31 March 2026.

Providing an update on applications for the 2026 academic year during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, NSFAS Acting CEO Waseem Carrim said the scheme has processed 101 201 appeals to date.

Of these, 22 654 appeals have been approved, 9 073 are awaiting supporting documents, 18 108 have been rejected, and 44 411 have been closed, deleted, or withdrawn.

“The appeals process is designed to be fair, accessible, and responsive. We encourage students with pending appeals to submit any outstanding documents promptly, as delays may impact funding and support.

“We are committed to transparency and timely communication regarding the appeals process, and regular updates are provided on our website and through our support centres,” Carrim said.

Carrim warned that delays in documentation submission may impact the outcome and disbursement of funding.

Students who do not meet academic progression or financial eligibility criteria have a right to lodge an appeal. Appeals may be considered on grounds such as medical conditions, traumatic events, or propensity to complete a qualification.

Over 148 000 accommodation leases signed

Carrim also provided an update on student accommodation applications.

According to NSFAS, the scheme has received 224 983 accommodation applications from students across the country.

So far, 148 825 students and accommodation providers have submitted signed lease agreements, confirming housing arrangements for the academic year.

“This is an important step in the funding and allocation process, ensuring that students can focus on their studies in a secure environment,” Carrim said.

However, he noted that a significant number of applicants have yet to submit their signed leases agreements.

He urged students and accommodation providers to complete the process as soon as possible, warning that failure to do so may result in delays or complications in the allocation of accommodation allowances.

“Students are encouraged to liaise with their accommodation providers and ensure all documentation is submitted promptly,” he said.

Billions disbursed to support students

NSFAS has already disbursed billions of rand to support students during the current academic year.

A total of R3 557 285 045 billion was paid on 2 February 2026 to cover student allowances and accommodation, enabling students to begin their studies without financial strain.

“On 2 March 2026, we made a second disbursement of R2 824 849 085, continuing our commitment to supporting students throughout their academic journey,” he said.

For Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, R679 079 050 was released on 2 February 2026 to cover tuition fees and allow institutions to register and support students from the start of the academic year.

Further payments included R145 457 290 to 51 130 students on 13 February, followed by R446 590 368 to 138 115 students on 27 February, covering allowances, including transport and accommodation.

“These investments are not just numbers; they represent our commitment to removing financial barriers and creating an enabling environment for academic success,” Carrim said.

Over 600 000 new students approved for funding

Meanwhile, NSFAS has approved funding for 692 704 first-time entering students and 550 959 continuing students, including 1 561 student loans.

The scheme has also received registration data for 174 962 TVET college students and 54 280 university students across South Africa.

Carrim said the registration data enables NSFAS to process and disburse funding more efficiently.

“This helps minimise delays and ensures that eligible students can access their funding and start their studies without uncertainty,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za