"It's a Crime Scene": Salary of School Principal With Master's Degree After 17 Years Stuns SA

• Boni Xaba shared a school principal's payslip on Facebook, revealing the educator's basic salary and take-home pay
• The principal holds a master's degree in education and has worked in the sector for 17 years since starting as a teacher in 2008
• South Africans flooded the comments section debating whether the salary reflects the value of teachers in the country

A payslip shared on Facebook has reignited South Africa's ongoing conversation about what teachers are actually earning. Content creator Boni Xaba posted the video on 20 August 2026, sharing a scanned payslip belonging to a school principal. Xaba, who is known for pay-transparency content focused on educators, said she "forced" the principal to hand over the document after becoming increasingly curious about how much school leaders actually earn.

The payslip showed a basic salary of R58,592, a housing allowance of R1,900, and gross earnings of R60,492. After deductions totalling R30,394, which included R15,496 in tax, the principal walked away with a take-home pay of R30,218.

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The educator behind the payslip started in the profession in 2008 as a post level one teacher, meaning they have spent 17 years working their way up to the principal's office. They also hold a master's degree in education. For many South Africans watching the video by Boni Xaba, the figures did not add up to the kind of reward they expected for someone with that level of education and experience. Watch the payslip video that sparked the salary debate:

Mzansi divided by principal's payslip

South Africans in the comments did not hold back:

Thabani Mbatha said:

"It's a crime scene 🙄🥺, a whole principal?"

Zungu Mnikazi Wempuphu Lungelo pointed out:

"Principal's salary depends on the number of learners."

MakaFifa Macufe NoLockdown noted:

"But bond of R10k has already been deducted, so take-home is R40k."

Grootman Kabelo Pitori asked:

"If a principal takes home R30k, what about a normal teacher? I thought teachers take home that amount."

Shadrack Makutu compared it to other sectors:

"That time a security guard from Rand Water takes home R30k ka grade C [at grade C]. 😭"

Busi Yolwa offered a sobering take on academic qualifications in the sector:

"Your degree, honours, master's don't matter in education. You get a thank you (extra money) once after graduating for each level of education."

Other Briefly News stories about salaries

• A South African chartered accountant's Instagram video, which revealed how quickly a R100,000 monthly salary can be depleted when accounting for essential family expenses.
• TikTok creator @liferesetwithboni, shared a payslip illustrating a South African YouTuber's earnings of R150,924.50. Th
• A discussion sparked by South African Twitter user Meshack Bevhula interrogated the inadequacy of salaries below R17,000.

Source: Briefly News