"That Salary is Decent": Bus Ticket Seller's Take-Home Pay and Deductions Stun Mzansi

• Boni Xaba shared a bus ticket seller's payslip on Facebook, revealing a basic salary of R13,000 a month
• The payslip showed total deductions of R6,000, leaving the worker with a take-home pay of R8,268
• South Africans were divided over whether the salary was fair, given the worker only holds a Grade 12 qualification

A South African content creator sparked a lively conversation online after sharing a bus ticket seller's payslip, leaving many people rethinking what these workers actually earn.

Boni Xaba posted the Facebook video on 26 September 2026, presenting the payslip in a straight-talking, slightly surprised tone. The clip focused on the earnings of a bus ticket seller, the person stationed at transport hubs who handles ticket sales, not the driver.

What the payslip shows

According to the document Xaba shared, the employee earns a basic salary of R13,000 a month. With public holiday pay factored in, total earnings come to R14,000. However, a range of deductions brings that figure down significantly.

Read also

"Don't forget kickbacks": Local ward councillor's monthly salary breakdown stuns Mzansi

The deductions include PAYE at R1,200, UIF contributions, a bargaining council levy, a further R24 deduction, a provident fund contribution of R1,000 and an additional pension fund (PF) deduction of R3,322. All in, total deductions amount to R6,000, leaving the worker with a net take-home pay of R8,268. Xaba also noted the employee holds only a Grade 12 certificate.

South Africans weigh in

The video drew strong reactions on the page, with opinions split between those impressed by the salary and those raising concerns about the deductions.

Boni Xaba himself wrote:

"Grade 12 only! I think it's a good one!"

Pollen Nkuna agreed:

"That salary is decent, one can live a decent life with that money."

Kea Kiddo Mphela took it further:

"They even qualify for a car, some Suzuki Swift or Kwid."

Nomvula Kheswa Nozulu pushed back on the tax figure:

Read also

Khayelitsha woman turns social grant into R18,000 monthly rental income

"So much PAYE doesn't make sense on that bracket, the PAYE should be around R900."

Ntandazo Molweni sided with those who saw the positive:

"It's a good one. With Grade 12 too, I think."

More Briefly News stories on salaries

• A viral TikTok debate over SAPS police dogs' salaries left South Africans asking where the money goes, as officers explain what K9 budget allocations really cover.
• Port terminal driver’s payslip shows R46,576 in gross pay after overtime, sparking a debate over Grade 12 qualifications and South African graduate salaries.
• A finance creator ranked 10 highest-paying careers in South Africa for 2026, from specialist doctors to chief executives, sparking debate over pay and omissions.

Source: Briefly News