Payroll mess after Nzimande’s department takes over

Adult learning centre closed by unpaid caretakers

15 March 2016 | By Bernard Chiguvare News | Cape Town

Photo of a classroom — Evening classes have been standing empty at Siyakhanyisa learning centre in Fisantekraal, Durbanville, since 7 March

“Unless we get paid, I will not open the gates,” says Dial Perrie, one of two angry caretakers at the Siyakhanyisa learning centre in Fisantekraal, Durbanville, who have blocked adult educators and adult learners from the premises since Monday 7 March.

Perrie says they are not being paid on time and it has been a problem since April 2015, when the Department of Higher Education and Training took over running the adult learning centres from the Department of Basic Education.

Educators and the caretakers say they wait for months to be paid.

The adult learning centre operates within Fisantekraal High School premises. The centre has been operating since 2009. It has five adult educators; 16 level four learners, six level three learners and 18 grade 12 learners.

“I am frustrated …. How do they [the Department of Higher Education and Training] expect us to go for three months without a salary,” says Nomzamo Dopolo, one of the educators who has been teaching at the centre since last year.

Dopolo during the day teaches grades 10 to 12. At the adult learning centre, she teaches 15 adult learners level four life orientation and grade 12 accounting.

“We understand several calls have been made to the department, but up to now we have not yet received any response … Some of my work mates come [from] far from the centre. How do they expect them to operate during these hours if they are not paid?” she asked last week.

Dopolo has a BA degree in education and five years teaching experience.

Her salary depends on the number of hours worked (usually 20 to 22 hours a month) at R182 per hour.

According to Dopolo, her April to June 2015 salary was not paid in full, but part of it on 15 June, the balance on 25 June. Again, in December, she received her salary from October. She was still waiting to get part of the December salary when GroundUp made inquiries with the department in Pretoria.

Fanie Reyneke, director for human resource management and administration, promised to make a payment once the Community Education Training Western Cape Regional Principal supplied names and employee numbers. Days after GroundUp’s inquiry Dopolo was paid.

But Perries, the caretaker, says that since January, he has not received payment for his after-hours work, opening the gates for the adult learners from Monday to Friday at 6:25pm and locking up again at 9pm. If he is not on night duty, he goes home at 4pm. He stays near the school, but his colleague lives 20km from the school.

He says not being paid is creating marriage problems for him. “She [his wife] becomes suspicious of my movement if I fail to produce the after-hours salary,” he says.

Lebitfo Tsolone, 29 years old and studying matric, said, “I have already paid R300 per month per subject, but I am not receiving any lessons.”

“I stay in Malmesbury and had paid money for transport to get to school,” he said, only to find the centre closed.

“I am not working at the moment but if I successfully complete my studies I wish to be a lecturer or a doctor,” he said.