Port Elizabeth - Eastern Cape teachers who planned to take the basic education department to court for non-payment have been paid, the department said on Friday.
The application by 25 temporary teachers was due to be heard in the Grahamstown High Court on Friday, but the matter was heard in chambers and adjourned, department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said.
“We have in fact paid all but two of them.”
Pulumani said the two teachers yet to be paid had outstanding authorisation forms from their district office. They should have their money by Monday morning.
The teachers, from six schools in Grahamstown, opted to take the department to court after it failed to pay their salaries. They were each owed between R36,000 and R90,000.
Last week, the Dispatch Online reported the Legal Resources Centre, which was helping the teachers in their case, wanted the department to pay within five days or have its assets seized under the State Liability Act.
According to the website, the department failed to honour a promise to pay all temporary teachers by May 8.
“Our head of department has set up a special task team in East London to fast-track all outstanding payments,” Pulumani said.
He said this included teachers' salaries and service providers.
“So they have gone a long way to clear the debt.” - Sapa