KZN Grade R teachers on brink of strike over salary delays

BY MONDAY afternoon, Grade R teachers across KwaZulu-Natal were still awaiting their April salaries, despite a promise from the crisis-plagued provincial education department, led by MEC Sipho Hlomuka, to have paid them by Friday, May 2. 

With frustrations boiling over, many teachers threatened to down chalk, a move that could disrupt learning for thousands of young pupils.

Nondumiso Ngcobo, a Grade R teacher at Motala Heights Primary in Pinetown, said the silence and delays from the Department of Education had thrown her finances into chaos.

“This is unacceptable. We worked the entire month under tough conditions, only to be ignored when it was time to be paid. It’s nonsensical and deeply frustrating,” said Ngcobo.

Despite holding teaching qualifications, Grade R educators said they were overworked and overlooked for permanent positions. 

Ngcobo revealed she was responsible for 50 pupils, which was far beyond the department’s recommended limit of 30–35 per class.

“The department stipulated this limit, but the same department is going against it. I have pupils who sit on the floor during lessons due to the lack of space. This is what we have to endure every day, yet we are not paid when it is time to get paid,” said Ngcobo.

The non-payment has had severe personal consequences for Ngcobo and many other dedicated teachers in the province. Ngcobo missed key payments for her life insurance and other household expenses, putting her and her family in a precarious position.

“If I die today, my colleagues will come, sing struggle songs, and leave a R5 donation. That’s what it’s come to,” said Ngcobo.

Grade R teachers in KZN are employed on renewable yearly contracts, which were usually renewed in February. 

However, these renewals were plagued by administrative glitches, delays that some teachers believe were "deliberate and man-made".

“This happens every year. It’s as if the department is trying to frustrate us despite the hard work we put in daily to ensure that the kids are well catered for.”

Another upset teacher, Nonhlanhla Zuma from Enkukhwini Primary School in KwaDukuza, lashed out at the department. Zuma, a qualified teacher for 10 years, said she was still battling to secure permanent employment and was now unable to cover her daughters’ school transport and education fees.

“My children are suffering because the department refuses to pay us. This is cruelty. I told my principal I won’t return to work if the money doesn’t reflect (in my bank account),” Zuma said.

“I will not allow the department to continue ill-treating ever again. They should pay us so that the pupils are not affected. This is unacceptable and painful.”

Nomarashiya Caluza, the KZN provincial secretary of the South African Teachers Union (Sadtu), said: “This is incompetent and uncalled for on the side of the department. Every year, we have to deal with this issue. I don’t know why the department is not fixing this issue. This matter is painful and totally uncalled for.” 

Caluza said they were piling up pressure for the department to pay the teachers by Thursday. 

In a statement, the National Teachers' Union (NATU) said: “NATU received numerous calls from Grade R teachers and branch leaders reporting that no payments were made. Worried about the false statement issued by DoE regarding this critical matter, we reached out to the Head of Department (HOD), who requested time to investigate the matter. He promised to revert to us, but no feedback has been received yet. NATU views the Department’s statement as deceptive and spurious.”

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