S Africa minimum wage begins Jan 1: president

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday that a landmark minimum wage bill to bridge the country's notorious inequality will become law from January 1 as he eyes elections due in 2019.

The bill legislates that the lowest paid workers receive a minimum of 20 rand ($1.42) per hour. "This is a great achievement for the working people of South Africa, who have had to endure generations of exploitation," Ramaphosa said at a signing ceremony in Johannesburg.

The unprecedented piece of legislation is expected to improve the wages and livelihoods of an estimated six million South Africans. The ruling African National Congress party will hope that the move along with recent decisions to lower taxes on key food staples.