Bhisho has frozen funds meant for hundreds of Eastern Cape education officials amid allegations of a “missing” R13-million.
Payments were processed last month and then put on hold two days after being issued.
Angry workers affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) protested at the department’s headquarters yesterday, calling on senior management to take action. The unionists said major banks had sent SMSes to their members stating the funds were “frozen”.
The Daily Dispatch understands the provincial planning and finance department, also known as the provincial treasury, issued an instruction to “freeze” funds meant for officials.
The funds were paid as part of benefits decided on by the government’s human resources operating project team for officials who were not promoted. Some cases dated back to 1996.
Members of the union’s Steve Tshwete branch said yesterday the department had told them R13-million was unaccounted for and that treasury had halted the processing of funds. This had left some of the 459 beneficiaries unable to access their funds.
Branch chairman Mlungiseleli Ncapayi said the move had divided workers because some had received payments, others not.
“The morale is low. Management of the education department does not have powers to act and treasury is making decisions on its behalf.”
The department had asked treasury to issue the instruction because it allegedly wanted to avoid duplication of payments.
Branch deputy secretary Nobukhosi Kunene said their members would continue to protest until the monies were released.
She said the union needed proof from the education department that the R13-million was indeed “missing”.
Treasury provincial spokeswoman Nosisa Sogayise said: “Provincial treasury has received a request from the department of education to close the payments from the bank up until they are comfortable with the verification process.”
Education provincial spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said: “The process was necessarily subjected to an audit in order to verify the people who should receive reimbursements. That process has been finalised. We are currently processing payments and these will be made at the earliest available opportunity.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Anger as officials’ funds frozen
Payments were processed last month and then put on hold two days after being issued.
Angry workers affiliated to the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) protested at the department’s headquarters yesterday, calling on senior management to take action. The unionists said major banks had sent SMSes to their members stating the funds were “frozen”.
The Daily Dispatch understands the provincial planning and finance department, also known as the provincial treasury, issued an instruction to “freeze” funds meant for officials.
The funds were paid as part of benefits decided on by the government’s human resources operating project team for officials who were not promoted. Some cases dated back to 1996.
Members of the union’s Steve Tshwete branch said yesterday the department had told them R13-million was unaccounted for and that treasury had halted the processing of funds. This had left some of the 459 beneficiaries unable to access their funds.
Branch chairman Mlungiseleli Ncapayi said the move had divided workers because some had received payments, others not.
“The morale is low. Management of the education department does not have powers to act and treasury is making decisions on its behalf.”
The department had asked treasury to issue the instruction because it allegedly wanted to avoid duplication of payments.
Branch deputy secretary Nobukhosi Kunene said their members would continue to protest until the monies were released.
She said the union needed proof from the education department that the R13-million was indeed “missing”.
Treasury provincial spokeswoman Nosisa Sogayise said: “Provincial treasury has received a request from the department of education to close the payments from the bank up until they are comfortable with the verification process.”
Education provincial spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said: “The process was necessarily subjected to an audit in order to verify the people who should receive reimbursements. That process has been finalised. We are currently processing payments and these will be made at the earliest available opportunity.” — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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