Education MEC, Tate Makgoe, has taken to social media to apologise, stating that there was a delay in payments and that they are being processed. 

This statement comes amidst growing concerns over the non-payment of staff in the Northern Cape. 

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) in the Northern Cape has called on the department to urgently pay assistant teachers, cleaners and Covid-19 screeners after months of no income. 

The union’s provincial secretary, Palesa Nqumashe, has expressed concern at how many cleaners, Covid-19 screeners, and assistant teachers had to go months without an income despite services rendered to the department. 

She says the situation seems to be worsening with the needs of the staff not attended to. 

Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Education, Geoffrey van der Merwe, says they are equally concerned about the current reality.

“We wish to remind our stakeholders that we are still severely challenged by the effects of Covid-19 on the education sector, for example, the need for cleaners and screeners which is still critical, long after the initial period which was anticipated for the duration of the virus in our society. 

"We have also not been able to accurately predict the additional pressures to be endured by our schools with regards to the appointment of temporary and substitute teachers as all schools have been affected by the loss of educators through attrition, resignations, illness as well as early retirements. 

"The education sector, like all others, had to face severe budget cuts in view of the country's economic reality,” he said.  

He adds that the department had to reprioritise its budget and can assure the public that payments will soon be made.

Furthermore, Free State’s Education Department vows to make payments by next week.

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