CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has been slated for alleged non-payment of contract educators at some schools.
A teacher from a school in Muizenberg, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, shared her frustration of working without pay for about two months and her school resorting to assisting with an advance.
“About six different posts were made available to the school in December. The new contract from the WCED came into effect on January 1, however to date we have not received any salary.
“Previously I was a teacher under the school governing body and paid by it. We all don’t know what the delay is, even the school doesn’t know.”
She said last Monday when she called the WCED an official who answered the phone said she was on the next pay run.
“I still don’t understand what that means, all I wanted to know was the reasons for the delay and when exactly to expect pay. Some of us stay far and we have bills to pay,” she said.
WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said all contract nominations were received via the contract administration system from schools and at present there were no outstanding nominations on this system for the WCED to process.
“Those received are processed within one to two weeks, if all documentation is received, accurate and up to date. Annually, Persal closes towards the 3rd week of February and only opens in the first week of March to process any transactions (due to tax year end). Any nomination received during this period will experience a delay in payment.”
Hammond said the department had received four nominations at the Muizenberg school that were processed for payment on March 7.
“One is still awaiting evaluation of qualification before appointment and payment can be made on Persal. These are isolated cases,” she said.
The Progressive Principals' Association (PPA) said it has also received reports from a few principals who indicated that some educators at their schools were in the predicament.
“As an organisation, we definitely empathise with anyone who is subjected to this unjust practice. A principal indicated that one such educator did not attend school for 3 days and when visiting the home, found there was no electricity and food. She has had to assist educators in dire need from her personal funds.
“Arguably it is a cause for concern if the Head Office cannot attend to employees being paid on time, yet they are expected to report for duty and fulfil their responsibilities,” said PPA spokesperson Anthea Adriaanse.
Cape Times