A group of about 25 Grahamstown teachers are taking the Department of Basic Education to court for non-payment since February.
A group of about 25 Grahamstown teachers are taking the Department of Basic Education to court for non-payment since February.
An urgent application lodged on their behalf by the Legal Resources Centre (LRC) will be heard in the Grahamstown High Court on Friday 24 May.
According to the Daily Dispatch in East London, the teachers from six different schools in Grahamstown all have letters of appointment from the beginning of 2013.
They are owed between R36 000 and R90 000 each and around R1.7-million collectively, according to court papers. They also want interest on their salary arrears at a rate of 15%.
This is the second time the teachers have had to turn to the courts for help. Earlier this year around 140 teachers sued the Department of Education to get appointment letters.
The Daily Dispatch reported that the LRC wants court to direct the Department to pay within five days or face asset forfeiture under the State Liability Act.
It has also asked that the Education Department pay legal costs on a punitive scale.
It was also reported that Departmental spokesperson Loyiso Pulumani said the failure to pay the teachers last week as promised was being investigated.
“We are assured that the list of outstanding payments is with Treasury. They should get their money by the latest Monday,” Pulumani said.
The LRC Director Sarah Sephton said very late yesterday that, “it looks like the teachers will be paid.”
