Mathews Phosa College teachers cry foul over unpaid salaries
One parent alleged that the school was not transparent about its financial difficulties and that there was a shortage of teachers. The principal denied these claims, saying replacement teachers have been made available.
Mathews Phosa College was recently brought into question about its failure to pay its educators their full salaries.The situation began in November 2024. Some teachers claimed they had to stay at home as they did not have the means to go to work.
One of the educators shared a letter from the school’s directors, dated November 29, with the subject: Notice of percentage payment of salaries. In it, the school’s directors admit to having financial troubles and promise to pay a percentage of the teachers’ salary starting from November 29.
“You will receive a percentage payment of your regular salary for the period. The balance of the unpaid salary for November 2024 will be paid when funds are available,” the letter states.
Mpumalanga News interviewed two educators at the school, who requested to remain anonymous. They expressed their frustrations over not receiving their full salary and not being able to go to work.
“The last time I received a salary was on November 29, and it was only 20% of what I was due. During that time, we were told the school would be liquidated, but that did not happen. The school reopened this year and I could not go to work because I could not afford to pay daycare for my child, so I had no one to take care of him. I had to stay home. How am I supposed to go to work if I do not have the means to pay daycare for my child?” she said.
She also alleged that the educators who had gone back to work when the school reopened this year received their full January salary and the rest of the November salary. “The rest of us who could not go back to work received nothing. The school stopped communicating with us, and I was removed from the school group chat,” she said.
The other teacher expressed concerns over the school allegedly having replacement teachers currently working at the school.
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“I received information there is someone teaching my subject, and this is concerning, because I have not handed in a resignation letter.”
The educators also provided another letter from the school that detailed the school’s plan to deal with the issue at hand. The letter said the school was planning to install an interim board of directors to manage the institution until new directors can be appointed, and that they have plans to address the financial issues, paying outstanding salaries and ensuring the institution’s financial stability.
Both teachers took action by opening cases at the Commission for Conciliation, Meditation and Arbitration (CCMA). The outcome of their respective cases was set to be determined on February 5 and 7. Mpumalanga News followed up on that, and both teachers said they still hadn’t received their salaries.
Meanwhile, a parent reached out to the publication, claiming that the school was not fully transparent with the parents about its financial difficulties. The parent also claimed that their child had complained about the shortage of teachers at the school.
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The school’s principal, Johannes Rammala, responded to the paper’s queries. “The workers were paid 25% of their November salaries. The school still needs to pay the workers 75% of their November salaries and 100% of the December salaries of the educators who did not report for work when the school started on January 4,” he said.
He admitted that although there had been disruptions in the first week of learning, they have since been resolved. He also denied claims that there were plans to close the school.
“The work division has been restructured with the staff who are available. There are no disruptions; teaching and learning are continuing as normal. There is no shortage of teachers; supervision only applies when there is a teacher who is absent or on leave.”
Regarding the teachers who are at home, Rammala said the school will pay them after the CCMA rulings. Contrary to the educators’ claims that no resignation letters have been handed in, the principal says the mathematics, mathematical literacy and Afrikaans teachers have resigned. He said the school has found replacements for them.
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“The teachers who reported to work were paid their January salary and 50% of their December salary. November salaries will be paid by the sponsor we are busy negotiating with,” Rammala said.
The Department of Education’s spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, said the department is not involved in the school’s financial constraints as it is a private learning institution. He advised the teachers to approach the labour department to lodge their complaints.
“The contract remains between the teachers and the school. The labour department is fully capable of assisting in such matters. The parents can approach the nearest circuit office to get assistance on identifying a nearby school if they would like to enrol their child in a different school,” Sambo said.
