R10m paid to suspended education staff

School principals, teachers and education officials suspended for misconduct have been paid out more than R10.4-million to sit at home, in some cases for nearly two years, as a result of red tape.

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And these are only figures from four of the country’s nine provinces, with the other provinces either refusing to provide statistics or saying they require more time to respond.

The Eastern Cape Department of Education paid out over R7-million over the past two years to 39 employees, including 26 officials, 10 teachers and three principals, after suspending them from duty on full pay — one for as long as 22 months.

Some of the charges they are facing relate to the sexual abuse of pupils, financial mismanagement, failing to carry out orders, carrying dangerous weapons at school and the theft of funds from a school nutrition programme.

The Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, Western Cape, North West, Gauteng, Free State and Mpumalanga education departments suspended a total of 175 officials, teachers and principals between April 2007 and last month.

Between April 2007 and last month, the Western Cape paid out R2.6-million to suspended education officials, the Northern Cape R543 665 and Gauteng R27 666.

The North West and Free State did not disclose figures, saying they needed time to compile these statistics.

Between April last year and last month, the five provinces also dismissed 85 employees, including officials, teachers and principals.

KwaZulu-Natal failed to provide statistics on suspensions, despite promising to do so.
Limpopo education spokesman Ndo Mangala referred the Sunday Times to the national office for comment.

Western Cape education spokesman Paddy Attwell said only one suspended employee’s case had dragged on for 21 months because of postponements and the need for further investigation.

“On average, a case is dealt with within three months,” he said.

KwaZulu-Natal headmaster Siva Naidoo, 47, who was suspended three years ago for allegedly being drunk on duty, has been paid more than R720 000 while sitting at home.

His appeal hearing is still under way.

According to the Employment of Educators’ Act, an employer may suspend a teacher on full pay for a maximum period of three months in cases of serious misconduct.

A month before Naidoo was suspended, he admitted attending counselling sessions for his drinking problem, but denied going to school drunk.

KwaZulu-Natal education spokesman Mbali Thusi said the case had been postponed several times because Naidoo’s attorney was unavailable.