Education Minister clashes with Gauteng Premier

A war of words has erupted between Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi over delays in paying stipends to thousands of education assistants.

For two months, many Education Assistants (EAs) and General Education Assistants (GEAs) employed under the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) Phase V have not been paid their monthly stipend of R3,500. 

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Lesufi wrote “when a DA led department fails to pay stipends it’s business as usual. Double standards.”

In response, Gwarube wrote that “I don’t know why, but I expected better from you. As a senior government leader you know well that the payment of EAs isn’t the responsibility of the DBE.”

“It is the work of the Department of Employment and Labour. To peddle lies with your chest is wild business.”

“The DBE has done everything to comply and submit all verification documents to ensure that our EAs are paid without further delay. Their work is invaluable in our schools. Enjoy your weekend,” added the Minister.

The Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, then issued a statement dismissing claims circulating online that it was withholding funds meant for the programme.

She called on the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to submit verified attendance registers to the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) for payment processing.

Lesufi immediately responded, writing: “Come this side, Minister ⁦@Siviwe_G,⁩ I hope you’ll withdraw your unfortunate utterances.”

“Only if you could have just accepted accountability for failure to do your work! @Our_DA⁩ must know governing is not like issuing media statements in opposition benches.”

The Education Assistants programme

The program, part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), aims to create temporary jobs for around 200,000 unemployed youth aged 18-34 in public schools, starting in June 2025.

Participants support classroom activities, literacy programs, and school operations, with contracts typically lasting six months.

The stipends are funded through a collaboration between the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), and the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

Meth said that the DEL, through the UIF, has already transferred R1.96 billion to the DBE as the first tranche of its total R4.01 billion contribution to the initiative.

The DBE confirmed that the September stipend payments had been delayed for assistants working in schools funded outside National Treasury allocations.

They said that the delays were linked to challenges with the timely submission and verification of required documentation from schools to the programme’s funder, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).

“For the month of September, the DBE did not submit complete supporting documents, which include the attendance registers, on time,” Meth said.

“The UIF requires these registers for verification in line with the multiparty funding agreement to process invoices for payment of 158,000 beneficiaries from 20,000 schools.”

She said that a meeting between the DBE, DEL, and UIF was held on 29 September 2025, during which the DBE agreed to send the outstanding documentation.

Assistants employed in schools funded directly by National Treasury are not affected and will receive their stipends as scheduled.

“The departments have implemented measures to resolve the documentation requirements urgently, ensuring compliance with the funder’s processes,” the DBE and DEL said in a joint statement.

“Affected assistants can therefore expect their stipends to be disbursed in due course.”