By Theodorah Waga Mawasha
KHUJWANA-With the contracts of education and general assistants coming to an end in August, dozens of assistants have come out guns blazing accusing the Department of Education of unfair treatment over unpaid wages.
The EAs and GAs from Serurubele secondary school at Khujwana in Greater Tzaneen, have also locked horns with the department and come out with serious allegations of corruption against the school governing body (SGB) and the headmaster over non-payments.
It is alleged that the officials sent out a memo at the beginning of July stipulating that they will not be eligible for wages.
As a result, the team of seven (7) sought answers from the officials as to why they are working but will not be paid. However, they were not given straight answers.
“We read on social media about other schools getting paid for July and that raised a lot of questions because we were told the department is not going to pay anyone for July. This raised our suspicion. We suspect the money is available but they don’t want to pay us”, the group said.
Tzaneen Voice contacted one of the SGB members Ramogolo Sekgobela to ascertain why the assistants have not been paid for July and said the department did not give them funds.
“The department has not paid money into the school’s account. That is the reason why the assistants have not been paid”, Sekgobela said.
The school principal Matome Mahlo could not be reached for comment.
When contacting the Department of Education media liaison Mike Maringa recommended that the learners and the school must write a letter to the HOD.
