Latest news with #MuziMahlambi
TimesLIVE
07-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
School meals issues resolved as payments finalised, says KZN education department
The KwaZulu-Natal education department has resolved outstanding payment issues with school nutrition suppliers. The department came under fire this week when it emerged that thousands of pupils were at risk of going hungry because service providers for the National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP) had not received their payments for April and May. Service providers staged a sit-in at the department offices in Pietermaritzburg on Monday protesting against the nonpayment. The department responded by acknowledging payments to 22% of the suppliers had been delayed due to technical issues associated with a new payment system. 'By April 24 78% of the payments were successfully processed. Subsequent attempts to finalise the remaining payments on April 25 and May 2 were unsuccessful due to technical difficulties linked to the implementation of a new financial system, Basic Accounting System (BAS) version 6, which is an upgrade from the previous BAS version 5. The National Treasury's IT team is working to resolve the system failures,' provincial spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said at the time. A new payment run was scheduled for Monday which would see the unpaid service providers receive their payments on Thursday. Mahlambi said on Wednesday the payment run was successful and the service providers can expect their payments to reflect on Friday. 'The department has full records of unpaid service providers. These lists have been shared with district offices to ensure affected service providers are kept informed and no further disruptions occur in the provision of meals to learners.' The department's well-documented financial woes have been largely attributed to overspending on staff compensation which makes up 82% of its budget allocation. That has limited its ability to fund other services and infrastructure projects. Parties in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature have also expressed concern about the situation, noting it was happening not long after reports that some grade R teachers had not been paid on time and the department had been flagged in the National Assembly for financial noncompliance under section 18 of the Public Finance Management Act which allows for direct national intervention. The EFF called for the intervention of provincial Treasury whereas the DA, partners in the government of provincial unity, said it would support the triggering of section 18, including placing the department under administration, if corrective measures are not implemented immediately. However, head of department Nkosinathi Ngcobo denied there were any links between the issue of unpaid NSNP suppliers and the department's financial difficulties. 'We acknowledge the concerns raised by our service providers and assure them the department is doing everything possible to resolve the technical glitches affecting payment processes,' he said. 'The problem has nothing to do with the financial difficulties of the department, for the NSNP is paid from the grant allocation. We remain committed to transparency, timely communication and the uninterrupted provision of meals to our learners in KZN. 'We thank stakeholders for their patience and co-operation as we work to stabilise the system and maintain the integrity of the NSNP.'
IOL News
27-04-2025
- IOL News
Teacher 'sent' explicit messages to pupil (12) on TikTok
Parents and community members staged a protest outside Pitlochry Primary School in Westville after allegations of child grooming by a teacher emerged recently. A PRIMARY school teacher is facing charges of child grooming after he allegedly sent explicit messages to a 12-year-old pupil on TikTok. Muzi Mahlambi, spokesperson for the KZN Department of Education, confirmed on Tuesday that the teacher was previously involved in a similar incident at another school and had been suspended. Mahlambi said the current matter had been reported to the principal on April 5. 'It was also reported to the circuit manager on the same day, who then instituted an investigation. The findings and recommendations are now on the desk of the department's head, for him to apply his mind and take the appropriate actions. The department is very disappointed and frowns at such alleged behaviour by teachers in our schools.' On Tuesday morning, parents and concerned community members gathered outside Pitlochry Primary School in Westville, demanding answers - including why the teacher had not been arrested to date. Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, confirmed Sydenham SAPS was investigating a case of child grooming, following reports that a man had allegedly sent explicit messages to a 12-year-old girl. Some of the parents, who spoke to the POST, said they were 'horrified' after hearing about the alleged incident on the television news on Monday night. It was alleged that the teacher had sent messages to the Grade 7 pupil on the social media platform, TikTok, in early April. In the message, he allegedly asked her, 'Do you use one finger or two?', followed by 'I asked which finger you use on yourself…'. In her alleged response, the pupil said: 'You're so dirty minded. I don't use any finger.' The teacher allegedly went on to say that she should not tell anyone about the messages. "Listen, please promise me you won't tell anybody, and I mean NOBODY that you chat to me,' the message read. After hearing the allegations, the parents demanded that the teacher not return to school on Tuesday. They called for his permanent removal from the school and if found guilty, from the education sector. Veran Jankee, who has two children at the school - in grades 5 and 7 - said they had been informed that the education department had issued a directive that the teacher not attend school on Tuesday. 'They have termed it as a precautionary removal. However, while investigations are ongoing and I don't want to prejudge, there has been talks that this was not the first such incident with him. It has been alleged this also occurred when he taught at other schools. However, if the allegations are found to be true then he should be removed from the education system and not have access to any child. 'As a parent, all we want is for our children to be safe, especially when they are at school. We don't need such 'predators' using the opportunity of school to approach our children. Thankfully, the parent of the alleged victim noticed a change in her behaviour and started digging further. She notified the school. If she was not vigilant, who knows how long or far this would have gone,' he said. Nerusha Maharaj, the mother of a Grade 5 male pupil, said she had found out about the alleged incident from watching the news. 'While we understand that the school has to follow protocols, we are the parents and have every right to know. It is sad and frustrating that this happened weeks ago but we had to hear about it on the news. Furthermore, he was moved from teaching to doing admin work. But he was still on the premises, so how was that protecting the children? The education department needs to move faster when dealing with such issues and be more transparent as this is our children's lives that are being compromised.' Neema Keshav, the mother of a Grade 4 female pupil, said it was scary to hear about such allegations at the school. 'We send our children to school so they can have a brighter future, but this causes a great darkness over that dream. It is a horrible feeling as a parent as you now have to ask your child if anyone, be it a teacher or a fellow pupil had 'touched or misbehaved with them'. 'You also have to explain to them why you are asking these questions. It is difficult. We should not have to be asking our children these questions. However, we didn't expect this at the school and we hope that it will be dealt with properly,' she said. Dinesh Ramsunder, whose child is in Grade 5 said: 'To have an alleged sexual perpetrator in the same school as your child is of great concern. But I am now standing up, not only for my child, but for all and calling on the education department to deal with this swiftly. In addition, there is a case that has been opened and the investigation should not be dragged out.' Alicia Kissoon, ward 23 councillor, said she had been approached by several concerned parents. She, together with parent representatives engaged with the school management to provide feedback to those present at the protest. 'While I am not the councillor for the ward in which the incident occurred, several of the parents who were at the protest, are residents of my ward. These parents are deeply distressed by the serious allegations involving a senior teacher and have called for greater transparency and accountability. The protest reflects a wider outcry for urgent intervention to ensure pupils safety. 'While I cannot comment on the specifics of the case to safeguard the privacy of the minor involved, it is imperative that this issue be addressed with the seriousness and urgency it warrants. The education department must also communicate clearly and act decisively to address the matter with sensitivity and integrity,' she said. Thirona Moodley, the chief executive officer of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of SA (Naptosa) in KZN, said they condemned any act of sexual grooming or advances of a sexual nature between a teacher and pupil. 'Teachers stand in for parents while pupils are at school. They are supposed to protect pupils and not use their positions to exploit them. 'However, we can't be judge and jury before these allegations are tested. In addition, the education department must investigate and report their findings to all concerned.' THE POST
