“Is Cold Drink Included?”: Traffic Officer’s Payslip Gets Mzansi Talking

• A TikTok video showing the payslip of a traffic officer from the Western Cape quickly drew attention
• The payslip revealed perks and deductions that left viewers debating how much the lifestyle reflects actual income.
• The officer’s note about flashy cars versus real salaries added even more fuel to the already-ongoing discussion

South Africans were left debating the lifestyle versus income after a TikTok revealed the payslip of a traffic officer.

Money matters always get people talking, and when salaries from unexpected professions emerge online, the reactions are even louder. Another video by TikTok creator @liferesetwithboni has left South Africans buzzing, this time after she shared the payslip of a traffic officer from the Western Cape. The post, uploaded on August 30, 2025, attracted more than 1,400 likes and over 130 comments within two days as people weighed in on the officer’s earnings.

The payslip revealed a basic salary of R22,458, with gross earnings just over R23,000. However, after deductions of R5,926, the officer’s take-home pay sat at R17,154, sparking debates about whether the income matches the lifestyle often associated with the job.

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Traffic officer salary sparks debate

The officer also received a danger allowance of R623, a detail that caught many people by surprise. Along with the figures, the officer wanted it to be known that the flashy cars often linked to traffic officers do not always reflect their actual pay, a statement that opened up even more debate.

Boni has built a following by sharing anonymised payslips from South Africans across different careers, giving people a transparent view of what professionals really earn. Her content consistently gets people talking about money management, job choices, and how lifestyles are perceived.

This resonated with many South Africans questioning how traffic officers balance their salaries with the image the public has of them. The video has since become one of the most discussed clips in her salary series, showing just how invested people are in these conversations.

Netizens react to the video

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Believe Ntuli said:

"He makes a further R20 000 from R20s. 😂😂😂"

Malome’atsona wrote:

"He has another R32 000 undeclared and untaxed."

Mabhukula Hlubikazi said:

"The day I will be taxed less than R3k, I will make a BRAAI for the whole country. 😭😭"

Mpilo wrote:

"What’s a danger allowance?"

User6195926613658 said:

"Danger allowance R6,000, haai."

Imameleng Lekalakala asked:

"R600? Danger? 😭"

Tebogo added:

"That's why they take our R20?"

Flower wrote:

"It’s better than nothing, considering that no qualification is required for this post."

Check out the TikTok video below:

3 Briefly News stories about payslips

• A TikTok post showing the payslip of an experienced attorney sparked a lively discussion in South Africa.
• A video showed a man’s frustration and disbelief at a weekly salary payslip that he picked up, surprised that people earn so little.
• A South African woman unveiled the payslip of a call centre agent with just a matric certificate, which shocked the nation.

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A young man revealed he worked as an operations manager, prompting discussions about his salary and lifestyle

Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News