The Free State Department of Education has been ordered to pay a teacher over R91,000 in unpaid salary after a prolonged struggle for her due compensation.

The teacher, only identified as PC, began working at Boase Primary School as a substitute teacher from mid-July 2023 until September 30, 2023, taking over responsibilities from a teacher on sick leave.

She was permanently appointed at the school in October 2023; however, she was not paid for the period she had worked as a substitute.

PC approached the school principal, who initially assured her that the payment issue would be rectified. However, further inquiries yielded little progress.

When PC escalated her concerns to the department, she encountered a dismissive attitude from an identified as Mr Mofokeng. He indicated over the phone that PC should be grateful for her permanent position and that there was little they could do regarding her non-payment. Conversely, another official, Mr Mothusi, acknowledged that she was indeed entitled to pay for her work.

Frustrated by the continuous lack of resolution, PC turned to the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) to address her non-payment dispute.

The school principal attended the proceedings and confirmed that PC worked as a substitute in place for a teacher that had gone on sick leave.

It was also revealed that PC’s job at the school came after learners were not taught from February 2023 to June 2023, and the school struggled to get a teacher who taught Isixhosa.

He further testified that in an effort to assist PC, he made several queries regarding her payment and was unsuccessful.

The department failed to attend the hearing, neglecting to present any evidence to justify their non-payment or to assert that PC’s claims were unfounded.

After reviewing the circumstances, ELRC Commissioner Khuduga Tlale said PC’s testimony was consistent, and there were no contradictions in what she said.

“On the other hand, the respondent (department) failed to attend the proceedings to prove that the amount claimed was paid, or that it was not owed to the applicant,” said Tlale.

In the absence of any proof from the department, Tlale found that the department owed PC the amount she had claimed.

The department was ordered to pay the money by October 31, 2025.

sinenhlanhla.masilela@iol.co.za

IOL News

Get your news on the go. Download the latest IOL App for Android and IOS now.

Source link