WATCH: Grade R teachers sleep outside Department’s office in protest

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – Hardly a month after Department of Education (DoE) failed to pay medical aid contributions and owing teachers salaries over two years, Grade R teachers have now embarked on protest outside provincial offices.

STEPUPSANEWS can confirm at least 8 teachers have been sleeping on the pavement outside department’s officers since Thursday without food, sanitation and risking their lives, anyone who has been watching the news would know how dangerous Bloemfontein is with crime reported daily.

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The group mostly women left their families and only survive with food from Samaritans who gave them R500 and wipes.

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According to letter in possession of this publication signed by Monaheng Tseeke, Chief of Staff in the Office of MEC dated 17 September 2024, he acknowledges the memoranda of the Grade R teachers.

That’s it, just an acknowledgment, and seven months later nothing.

Prior to that, Advocate Humphrey Malakoane, Head of Department encouraged teachers to “take opportunities created for improving their qualifications to aid employment process” in a separate letter in our possession.

This despite at least 387 Grade R teachers being qualified.

While the department cite budget constrains, the same department spent R10 million on three events that have nothing to do with Education.

A Grade R teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity said the late Tate Makgoe, former MEC of Education hired Grade R teachers but the new administration is failing him.

“In 2022 Tate Makgoe hired Grade R teachers and since then we have been given run around till we decided to embark on the protect.

Even Makalo Mohale did nothing since he took over now we are with the Dr Maki Mabeya who is also failing us.”

This is a developing story.

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