What is the minimum wage for a nanny in Polokwane?

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

How much should a nanny earn per month in Polokwane?

At the legal minimum of R30.23/hour and a typical full-time, weekdays, live-out pattern of 45 hours a week, a nanny earns about R 5 894,85 per month gross. This is a legal minimum, not a market average. Households often pay a nanny above the minimum once trust, first-aid training, sole-charge responsibility for an infant, or driving the children around are involved — but that premium is a market choice, not a legal entitlement.

What does a nanny usually do?

A nanny is a worker whose main job is caring for and minding children. Typical responsibilities include supervising and keeping children safe through the day, school runs, meals, naps and the daily routine, age-appropriate play, homework help and activities. A nanny is a domestic worker in law, so the single national minimum wage applies in full — there is no separate, lower 'childcare' rate. Hours spent watching a sleeping child still count as working time and must be paid.

How much UIF for a nanny?

UIF is 1% deducted from the worker plus 1% paid by the employer. On a gross of about R 5 894,85, that is roughly R 58,95 off the worker and R 58,95 from the employer each month, up to the R17 712 monthly ceiling.

Legal minimum 2026

Nanny salary in Polokwane (2026)

What you legally have to pay a nanny — a worker whose main job is caring for and minding children — in Polokwane this year: the national minimum wage, the 4-hour daily minimum, an estimated monthly gross for a typical full-time, weekdays, live-out 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 Polokwane 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 5 894,85

Typical 45 hours/week at minimum wage

UIF (1% + 1%)

R 58,95 + R 58,95

Deducted from worker + paid by employer

What a nanny typically does

A nanny is a worker whose main job is caring for and minding children. The usual arrangement is full-time, weekdays, live-out. Day to day, the role tends to cover:

supervising and keeping children safe through the day
school runs, meals, naps and the daily routine
age-appropriate play, homework help and activities
children's laundry, bottles and tidying their spaces

A nanny is a domestic worker in law, so the single national minimum wage applies in full — there is no separate, lower 'childcare' rate. Hours spent watching a sleeping child still count as working time and must be paid.

How the nanny 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 Polokwane just like everywhere else. A typical nanny working 9 hours a day, 5 days a week does 45 hours a week, which comes to about R 5 894,85 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. Households often pay a nanny above the minimum once trust, first-aid training, sole-charge responsibility for an infant, or driving the children around are involved — but that premium is a market choice, not a legal entitlement. 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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Nanny pay in Polokwane — quick answers

What is the minimum wage for a nanny in Polokwane?: The national minimum wage for a domestic worker — including a nanny — is R30.23 per hour from 1 March 2026. It applies everywhere in South Africa, including Polokwane. A nanny who reports for work must be paid for at least 4 hours, so the daily minimum is R 120,92.
How much should a nanny earn per month in Polokwane?: At the legal minimum of R30.23/hour and a typical full-time, weekdays, live-out pattern of 45 hours a week, a nanny earns about R 5 894,85 per month gross. This is a legal minimum, not a market average. Households often pay a nanny above the minimum once trust, first-aid training, sole-charge responsibility for an infant, or driving the children around are involved — but that premium is a market choice, not a legal entitlement.
What does a nanny usually do?: A nanny is a worker whose main job is caring for and minding children. Typical responsibilities include supervising and keeping children safe through the day, school runs, meals, naps and the daily routine, age-appropriate play, homework help and activities. A nanny is a domestic worker in law, so the single national minimum wage applies in full — there is no separate, lower 'childcare' rate. Hours spent watching a sleeping child still count as working time and must be paid.
How much UIF for a nanny?: UIF is 1% deducted from the worker plus 1% paid by the employer. On a gross of about R 5 894,85, that is roughly R 58,95 off the worker and R 58,95 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.