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It is unacceptable that more than 80 Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) employees are drawing a salary for doing no work while the current structure is being revised.

The DA has been reliably informed that these employees only go in to sign the register and then return home. This is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money, and the reasons provided by the MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, hold no water.

In a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), the MEC indicated that the GCRA is currently undergoing a re-engineering process. Furthermore, the MEC says that due to this process, some officials do not have the skill set or adequate knowledge for the new organogram, while R91 193 000,00 has been set aside for salaries.

While the upskilling of workers is a step in the right direction, the restructuring cannot be used as an excuse for employees being paid to do nothing. This has been happening since 2019.

The GCRA plays a critical role in assisting students who want to further their studies in education. Gauteng needs qualified teachers who will ensure that our learners receive a quality education. However, if this trend continues and employees are paid a salary for sitting at home, our learners are the ones who will suffer.

The DA will continue to engage the MEC on this issue, as this situation cannot continue any longer. In any other workplace, disciplinary action would have been taken against employees who did not attend work without a valid reason.

Furthermore, we also demand that these employees must be utilised to assist in schools where there is a shortage of human resources.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education