Grim festive season for Jona Vaughan staff
It will be a bleak Christmas for Jona Vaughan's 49 staff members whose December salaries have been postponed until January 2025.
THIS Christmas the staff at the Jona Vaughan Home for the Handicapped will face a challenging holiday season as their December salaries are postponed until January 2025.
Also read: Raffle raises funds for Jona Vaughan Home
The home which relies on subsidies from the Department of Health (DoH) and the Department of Social Development (DSD) via Durban Coastal Mental Health (DCMH), is under financial strain. In a statement, the home’s parents association revealed that due to the expected salary delay, staff attendance had been sporadic this month.
DCMH CEO Mbonisi Sibisi explained that the salary delays stemmed from a recent change in the DSD’s payment system, which now disburses funds quarterly instead of monthly. This transition has created a gap in funding, leaving non-profit organisations (NPOs) like the Jona Vaughan Home short for one month.
“The three-month tranche system has caused significant disruptions, leaving NPOs one month’s subsidy short. We’ve written to the DSD’s head of department outlining the impact on our operations and staff payments, but we’re still waiting for a response,” said Sibisi.
Also read: Stakeholders join forces for Jona Vaughan
He noted that DCMH had briefed staff last week on the situation, explaining how payments would be managed between November 2024 and January 2025. He assured staff that they would receive double payments in January when the December subsidy was finally paid.
Despite these financial hurdles, DCMH is committed to maintaining operations and ensuring service users are cared for during December. “If staff face transport challenges, we assist them, or relief staff step in to support our users. Parents’ associations have also pledged to help with fundraising efforts to provide food and other essentials for staff during this difficult period,” Sibisi said.
The parents association has rallied to ensure staff can still enjoy some festive cheer, calling on the public to contribute to Christmas hampers for the 49 staff members.
“To ensure every staff member receives a hamper, we encourage parents, guardians, and friends to purchase items and assemble the hampers themselves. Relying solely on donations may result in insufficient supplies,” they said.
The association urges contributions to be made by December 20. To assist, contact Wendy Maas on 084 446 6107.
Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
