Workers at education institute desperate over late salaries

Cleaners at the education leadership institute in East London have gone on strike to demand their August salaries, which have still not been paid.

The institute in Stirling was recently renamed the Mandla Makupula Education Institute.

On Friday workers filled the building's reception area with litter and prevented people from entering.

They said they hadn't been paid their August salaries, and accused their bosses of “constantly” delaying payment.

Workers told the Dispatch their families were hungry and some couldn't take their children to school.

One worker said their counterparts in the Zwelitsha (the department's provincial head office) and Dr WB Rubusana (East London district office) buildings had been paid.

The workers have now downed tools until their money arrives.

One worker said they had signed a contract with the expanded public works programme (EPWP), an initiative from the department of public works & infrastructure.

However, public works spokesperson Vuyokazi Mbanjwa said the department had no EPWP workers at the institute.

Provincial education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said the workers were employed by the department of education.

Mtima said a document had been sent to provincial treasury for the payments.

“Their money could be paid any time from today. Treasury should sign it any time from now,” he said.

Xoliswa Gedezi said she was struggling to feed her family.

“I've been unable to buy food; my insurance policies have lapsed due to us not getting paid.

“We signed our contracts on November 26 last year and we were not paid in December and January until February 10.

“Our April salaries arrived in May and our May salaries in July. There is always a delay in payments.

“These past few months we've been receiving money from the security company hired at the centre,” Gedezi said.

The workers said they had returned to work on Monday but downed tools.

“We were called into a meeting where we were reprimanded for spreading rubbish.

“We were told to return to work next week Monday,” Gedezi said.

According to Gedezi, the education leadership institute has 13 workers, including a supervisor.

She said they were responsible for cleaning offices, conference rooms, passages, windows and bathrooms.

Monica Gordon said cleaners at the institute had taken strike decision “because our voices are not heard”. 

Neliswa Kwayila said she'd had to borrow money from loan sharks to survive.

“Now when the money does arrive, I will have to pay off my debts so it won't be effective.

“We don't want to be borrowing money, but we are left with no choice,” she said.