Johannesburg - A Zimbabwean temporary teacher is considering taking legal action against the Limpopo Education Department because his salary has been withheld for four months.
Dzingirai Mabhugu, 34, a maths teacher at Sekeleka Secondary School in Ditatju village near Bochum, said the department owed him about R60 000.
This was his salary for January to April, and he is yet to hear from the department.
He suspects his money was swindled by corrupt officials.
“I have written to the head of department but my letter was never responded to,” he said.
Mabhugu has worked at the school for six years, as the only maths teacher for grades 10 to 12.
Despite the shortage of maths teachers, the department would not employ him permanently because he didn’t have a permanent South African residence permit, he said.
Mabhugu was employed temporarily by the school governing body and the principal, but his salary comes from the department.
But from January to April, without any notice, his salary was stopped, leaving him at the mercy of friends as his wife is unemployed.
“It’s a problem because those people now want their money back,” said the father of two.
In September, a Mr Mokwatlo, manager for the Maleboho Central Circuit, allegedly refused to consider his dilemma.
“He said I must first get permission from my principal before I could speak to him.,” said Mabhugu.
When asked to comment, Mokwatlo said: “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Principal SA Mametja confirmed Mabhugu was a teacher at his school but wouldn’t comment further.
Salphy Lefoka, secretary of the school governing body, said she was aware of Mabhugu’s troubles and that the governing body had tried, without success, to plead for the circuit’s intervention.
“The school doesn’t have money to pay him, and if he decides to go it will be a loss to our school,” said Lefoka.
She added that even though Mabhugu hadn’t been paid for four months, he never missed a class.
After Mabhugu’s salary was mysteriously stopped for four months, it was reinstated at the end of May.
Provincial education spokesman Phuti Seloba said: “We are investigating the matter and we believe it will be resolved speedily.”
The Star