What is the minimum wage for a caregiver (elder care) in East London?

The national minimum wage for a domestic worker — including a caregiver (elder care) — is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. It applies everywhere in South Africa, including East London. A caregiver (elder care) who reports for work must be paid for at least 4 hours, so the daily minimum is R 120,92.

How much should a caregiver (elder care) earn per month in East London?

At the legal minimum of R30.23/hour and a typical long days, sometimes live-in or with night standby pattern of 50 hours a week, a caregiver (elder care) earns about R 6 549,83 per month gross. This is a legal minimum, not a market average. Caregiving for a frail or high-needs person — especially with nursing skills, long shifts or night duties — is typically paid well above the minimum. That reflects the demands of the role, and the legal floor still applies underneath whatever is agreed.

What does a caregiver (elder care) usually do?

A caregiver (elder care) is a worker who assists and cares for an elderly or frail family member. Typical responsibilities include personal care — bathing, dressing, mobility and meals, medication reminders and monitoring wellbeing, companionship, lifts to appointments and daily routine. A home caregiver employed by a household is a domestic worker for minimum-wage purposes, so the national hourly minimum applies. Where the role is live-in or involves night-time standby, those hours are working time and must be paid — and any accommodation arrangement is handled separately, not by paying below the minimum.

How much UIF for a caregiver (elder care)?

UIF is 1% deducted from the worker plus 1% paid by the employer. On a gross of about R 6 549,83, that is roughly R 65,50 off the worker and R 65,50 from the employer each month, up to the R17 712 monthly ceiling.

Legal minimum 2026

Caregiver (elder care) salary in East London (2026)

What you legally have to pay a caregiver (elder care) — a worker who assists and cares for an elderly or frail family member — in East London this year: the national minimum wage, the 4-hour daily minimum, an estimated monthly gross for a typical long days, sometimes live-in or with night standby pattern, and the UIF on top.

These are legal minimums, not market rates

The figures below are the minimum you may pay by law from 1 March 2026. They are not market averages — many households in East London pay more depending on experience, hours, live-in arrangements and duties.

Minimum hourly

R30.23

National minimum wage, from 1 March 2026

Daily minimum (4-hour rule)

R 120,92

A worker who reports must be paid for at least 4 hours

Estimated monthly gross

R 6 549,83

Typical 50 hours/week at minimum wage

UIF (1% + 1%)

R 65,50 + R 65,50

Deducted from worker + paid by employer

What a caregiver (elder care) typically does

A caregiver (elder care) is a worker who assists and cares for an elderly or frail family member. The usual arrangement is long days, sometimes live-in or with night standby. Day to day, the role tends to cover:

personal care — bathing, dressing, mobility and meals
medication reminders and monitoring wellbeing
companionship, lifts to appointments and daily routine
light housekeeping connected to the person being cared for

A home caregiver employed by a household is a domestic worker for minimum-wage purposes, so the national hourly minimum applies. Where the role is live-in or involves night-time standby, those hours are working time and must be paid — and any accommodation arrangement is handled separately, not by paying below the minimum.

How the caregiver (elder care) minimum is worked out

South Africa sets a single national minimum wage for domestic workers — R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026 — and it applies in East London just like everywhere else. A typical caregiver (elder care) working 10 hours a day, 5 days a week does 50 hours a week, which comes to about R 6 549,83 a month gross at the minimum rate.

On top of the wage, both you and the worker pay 1% UIF on the gross (up to the R17 712 monthly ceiling). The worker's 1% comes off their pay; your 1% is paid by you and is not deducted.

What's a fair rate above the minimum?

The figures above are the legal floor. Caregiving for a frail or high-needs person — especially with nursing skills, long shifts or night duties — is typically paid well above the minimum. That reflects the demands of the role, and the legal floor still applies underneath whatever is agreed. Treat any above-minimum range as an estimate and a guide — the load-bearing legal fact is the R30.23/hour minimum, not the market range.

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Caregiver (elder care) pay in East London — quick answers

What is the minimum wage for a caregiver (elder care) in East London?: The national minimum wage for a domestic worker — including a caregiver (elder care) — is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. It applies everywhere in South Africa, including East London. A caregiver (elder care) who reports for work must be paid for at least 4 hours, so the daily minimum is R 120,92.
How much should a caregiver (elder care) earn per month in East London?: At the legal minimum of R30.23/hour and a typical long days, sometimes live-in or with night standby pattern of 50 hours a week, a caregiver (elder care) earns about R 6 549,83 per month gross. This is a legal minimum, not a market average. Caregiving for a frail or high-needs person — especially with nursing skills, long shifts or night duties — is typically paid well above the minimum. That reflects the demands of the role, and the legal floor still applies underneath whatever is agreed.
What does a caregiver (elder care) usually do?: A caregiver (elder care) is a worker who assists and cares for an elderly or frail family member. Typical responsibilities include personal care — bathing, dressing, mobility and meals, medication reminders and monitoring wellbeing, companionship, lifts to appointments and daily routine. A home caregiver employed by a household is a domestic worker for minimum-wage purposes, so the national hourly minimum applies. Where the role is live-in or involves night-time standby, those hours are working time and must be paid — and any accommodation arrangement is handled separately, not by paying below the minimum.
How much UIF for a caregiver (elder care)?: UIF is 1% deducted from the worker plus 1% paid by the employer. On a gross of about R 6 549,83, that is roughly R 65,50 off the worker and R 65,50 from the employer each month, up to the R17 712 monthly ceiling.

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Dignita is a compliance tool, not legal advice. Figures are based on current South African legislation; confirm with a labour-law professional for your situation.