False promises for staff
The hopes of hundreds of Extra School Support Programme (ESSP) staff were shattered last Thursday after they were left stranded by the department of education.
ESSP is an initiative by the department of education to create employment through a support system that will help children at school.
The staff mainly help children with their homework, but also help the school on the sports field and in the classroom where needed.
The ESSP staff were waiting at the Duduza taxi rank waiting for transport to a job fair in Johannesburg, which was organised by the department of education.
The fair hosted different businesses and career experts and would have given the staff the opportunity to meet potential employers.
More than 500 people stood waiting at the taxi rank. Eventually one bus stopped to transport the staff to the fair.
Everyone rushed inside thinking there would be more buses on the way, but there were no more buses.
Tshepo Thage, an ESSP staff member, said they had to register and were given tags with their names that would allow them access into the fair. He said the department of education was fully aware how many people from the area needed transport to the fair.
According to Thage, many of the people were told by the organisers to arrive at 6am and had to wait outside in the sun hoping that transport would be available.
“We feel betrayed because the department is the one who offered to take us, now we are stranded here with all the energy and hope drained from our souls. Is this how they thank us?” he asked.
Bakang Masoka, who made certain that he printed as many CVs as possible, is bitterly disappointed.
“My three year contract ends this year. This was an opportunity that could have helped me. The department has failed us dismally,” he said.
He added that it seemed ridiculous to print out more than 500 access cards to the fair, but bring out a bus that can only seat 65 people.
According to GDE spokesman Gerwish Chuenyan, supervisors at the different districts were informed that transport was supposed to be provided by sponsors.
“Those who were unable to attend will get the opportunity to get information on company opportunities, learnerships, bursaries and any other advertised posts,” he said.
