This follows the Ad Laudem Independent School's inability and failure to pay its staff their full salaries due to alleged cash flow issues besieging the independent school near Universitas Academic Hospital. 

The staff have allegedly been receiving as little as R400, R800 and R1 000 in instalments every month whilst managers are accused of going home with fat cheques.

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According to the education department's spokesperson, Howard Ndaba, the department has tried in vain to meet with the management of the school, but says they will continue to do so in the new year.

Ndaba confirms that the efforts to try and meet with the management of the school will be made before the re-opening of schools in 2023.

Owner and founder Lizette Roets previously told OFM News in an interview that the 7-year-old school had tried every possible way to sort out its financial issues, but it is still reeling from the effects of Covid-19. In a detailed interview, she mentioned how she had fought for her staff to avoid laying them off.

"We had issues with parents not paying, they used Covid-19 as an excuse and we had to make other plans. We sold our personal vehicles and that money went to the school. We sold the school bus to get money to pay salaries," she said.

"We reduced our own salaries, we told the auditor that we don’t want to be paid a salary anymore. We have always consulted our staff and kept them up to date. We have minutes of the meetings to prove that. We have always been transparent and kept them in the loop."

In December 2022, the staff was still struggling to receive full pay for November, whilst December pay was also in question.

According to teachers at the school, who asked to remain anonymous, the school is yet to finish paying salaries for November.

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One of the staff members has detailed the experience at the school and labelled it as terrible conditions to work under.

"I have been a teacher at that school for five years. I have worked under terrible conditions. The only way to sum up the environment is one that is abusive and toxic.

"We never know from one day to the next if we are going to be fired. This year has been particularly bad as we were told that the school was in a financial crisis and the management team was working on it."

Previously, the staff told OFM News that the management of the controversial school has failed to communicate with them about issues that continue to besiege the school.

"We were told it would last three months. Our support staff were placed on 50% work time and salaries. They were also told that it would also be for a few months. They are still on 50%.

"Every month we are given excuse after excuse. The excuses include: someone stole the money; the account was hacked; then it was Sars. The next excuse was that the parents did not pay school fees.

"Not once have we ever been told the truth or even thanked for our hard work during difficult times. If we don't have petrol to come to work we are told it's not their problem. Every teacher has always put the kids first. They are dedicated teachers," the staff member added.

OFM News