Union calls comments 'baseless and insulting'
The Association of State Servants (US) has hit back at prominent economist Dawie Roodt after he described South Africa as a "parasitic state" and labelled certain government employees as the true "state makers". The union expressed "extreme concern" over the remarks, calling them a dangerous generalisation that disrespects the country's dedicated public servants.
Roodt delivered his provocative assessment during an online conference hosted in Hermanus last week. He pointed out that the average government employee receives more than R50 000 monthly, with the total civil service workforce exceeding 1.2 million — a figure that does not include state-owned enterprises or entrepreneurs.
"The salary of civil servants represents a third of total government expenditure and as a percentage of the gross domestic product, civil servants get - and I don't use the word 'earn', but the word 'get', because there is a difference - they get about 13% of the economy."
The economist further questioned why poorly managed entities such as Eskom, Transnet and the Post Office continue to receive wage increases well above the inflation rate. He urged taxpayers to stop accepting this state of affairs and called on political leaders to confront the issue head-on.
"I want a political leader to stand up and say the real problem is that we have this massive state that is supposed to serve me and look after me and look after my interests, but this state has become a parasitic state."
Union defends workers and challenges salary claims
The US firmly rejected Roodt's characterisation, arguing that branding all civil servants as "parasitic" or "state builders" demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of the conditions under which they operate. The union stressed that public servants work under difficult circumstances with limited resources and immense pressure to deliver essential services. They are the nurses staffing hospitals, teachers educating children in schools, police officers patrolling streets, and administrative personnel keeping government institutions running.
The union also took issue with the claim that civil servants are overpaid, dismissing it as disconnected from reality. Public sector workers face the same financial pressures as all South Africans, including rising inflation and increasingly expensive basic necessities. The US maintained that it is entirely reasonable for workers to expect fair and acceptable salary adjustments in such an economic climate.
Furthermore, the union questioned the data underpinning Roodt's assertions about the "general salary" of a civil servant, insisting that policy discussions should be grounded in credible facts rather than rough assumptions and populist rhetoric. The US pointed out that public service salaries and increases are collectively negotiated through formal bargaining processes, not determined by individuals.
"The US will not allow civil servants to be unfairly stigmatised or used as scapegoats for greater economic challenges. Civil servants form the core of service delivery in South Africa. They deserve respect, not baseless malicious accusations."
The sharp exchange highlights the ongoing tension between fiscal hawks who view the public wage bill as unsustainable and organised labour movements determined to protect the interests and dignity of government workers across the country.
South Africa's public sector wage bill consumes roughly a third of government spending, making any debate about its sustainability directly relevant to taxpayers, service delivery, and fiscal planning. With over 1.2 million civil servants and struggling state-owned enterprises demanding continued funding, the tension between containing costs and maintaining essential services affects hospitals, schools, and infrastructure nationwide. How policymakers balance fiscal discipline with fair compensation will shape economic stability and the quality of public services in the years ahead.
