Former ruling African National Congress Chief Whip Tony Yengeni's salary will drop from R378,804 a year to a backbencher's pay of R302,280 a year - a drop of R76,520 a year.

It is understood, however, that salaries are about to go up in these categories - with the government Chief Whip earning R428,590 a year and a backbencher's salary rising to R326,462 a year in terms of recommendations of the Goldstone Commission on the remuneration of public office bearers.

While acknowledging at a press conference that he would suffer a significant drop in salary after he resigned on Thursday as Chief Whip - citing the pressure of the upcoming trial on charges relating to alleged arms deal corruption - Yengeni did not divulge figures.

But in terms of a proclamation signed by President Thabo Mbeki in September last year, as Chief Whip he would have fallen into the third highest paying category of parliamentarian - the category into which the parliamentary counsellor of the President and the leader of the opposition fall.

On a highest scale is the Speaker and the chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, followed by the Deputy Speaker and the deputy chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. These two scales earn R598,162 and R486,178 at present respectively.

An ordinary MP's package, into which Yengeni will now fall, includes a motor vehicle allowance of R54,960, while the chief whip's car allowance is R75,761.  

With acknowledgment to Donwald Pressly, INet Bridge and Business Day.