"It's Tax Avoidance": Executive Manager's R378k Location Allowance on Payslip Has Mzansi Stumped

• A South African content creator shared a payslip showing an executive manager earning over R541k in a single month
• The R378,310 location allowance on the payslip left many viewers confused about whether such a benefit even exists
• Commenters were divided, with some explaining what the allowance covers and others raising eyebrows at the figure

A payslip shared on Facebook in July left thousands of South Africans doing a double take. The video, posted by @Liferesetwithboni, a creator known for sharing content about jobs, salaries and career opportunities, zeroed in on one eye-catching line item: a location allowance of R378,310.

"Where is this person moving from and to, guys? Is there such a thing as this type of allowance for relocation?" she asked in the clip, her disbelief plain to see.

What the payslip actually showed

The document belonged to an executive manager whose base monthly salary sat at R159,128. Added to that was a travel package of R3,775 and the now-viral location allowance of R378,310, bringing the gross total to R541,213. After deductions of R446,251, the take-home pay came to R94,960.

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The sheer size of the allowance is what sent the comment section into overdrive. For many South Africans, a benefit of that scale sits well outside the range of anything they have ever seen on a payslip.

Is a location allowance normal?

One commenter, Ntanda Tutuse Jokani, stepped in with a detailed breakdown:

"Yes, there is. It is actually not much. This is inclusive of packing of your furniture, transporting, storing and re-delivery of your stuff to your new place. Also factor the temporary condition for the time being while you are looking for a place to rent. Some companies would have a cap or limit it to 1 month max, paying for your hotel accommodation. The bulk of it goes to removals and insurance of your goods."

Compensation experts note that while location-based pay adjustments are standard practice, calling it out as a separate line item on an executive's payslip is unusual.

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At senior levels, organisations typically fold such premiums directly into an all-inclusive base salary to avoid drawing attention to additional perks on top of an already generous package. The practice is more commonly seen during temporary assignments, project-based contracts or formal international relocations.

Mzansi reacts to the viral payslip

South Africans in the comments section on Boni's Facebook page had plenty to say:

@Gregory Tshele asked:

"Ain't this 'tax avoidance' though? If it is not classified as Taxable income, then you know what's up."

@Namogane Matsepe quipped:

"He'll explain in Madlanga commission."

@Cindy Mgabadeli was blunt:

"Just paying himself a salary."

@Peter Javisto Pieter offered a practical view:

"Transport for your furniture, probably going very far, insurance included in that cost."

Watch the video that sparked the debate below:

More on eye-opening SA salaries

• Briefly News recently reported on Vodacom's CFO, who earned a staggering pay package for the 2026 financial year despite skipping a full grade in school.
• A nurse proudly showed off her RDP house after walking away from R7,000 monthly rent, sparking a heated debate online.
• A content creator broke down the full list of extra benefits South African MPs and ministers receive at taxpayers' expense, leaving viewers stunned.

Source: Briefly News