By Lebone Rodah Mosima
Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, on Monday expressed deep concern over delays in stipend payments to Education Assistants employed through the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI).
To urgently address the issue, Gwarube, together with Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, has convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders responsible for administering and disbursing payments under the programme, including the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
The DEL, which represents the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), funds the initiative, while the IDC serves as the programme’s implementing agent.
The meeting aims to identify and resolve the root causes of payment delays, prioritise the processing of outstanding stipends, and strengthen systems to prevent future disruptions.
Gwarube acknowledged the strain these delays have placed on Education Assistants and their families, noting that many rely on these stipends for daily living.
She said the delays had also undermined confidence in a programme that provides vital work opportunities and supports schools nationwide.
“Education Assistants are not only vital to our school communities, they are young people whose livelihoods depend on this initiative. I extend my sincere apologies to every participant affected by these delays. We are working tirelessly with our partners to ensure all payments are finalised without further setbacks,” said Gwarube.
Gwarube reaffirmed her Department’s commitment to ensuring the smooth functioning of the BEEI, safeguarding the integrity of the programme, and upholding the dignity of its participants.
She said an update would be provided to the public once immediate corrective measures have been finalised and implemented.
In a statement released on Sunday, Minister of Employment and Labour, Nomakhosazana Meth, outlined the official payment process under the Service Level Agreement (SLA) signed between the DBE and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
“The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) stands firm in its unwavering support of the initiative, recognising its vital role in tackling youth unemployment, providing meaningful work opportunities, and supporting schools nationwide,” the statement read.
She added that, as custodians of public funds, DEL operates within the framework of the law, the Multiparty Funding Agreement (MFA), and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA).
The MFA, signed between the DBE, UIF, and IDC, governs the BEEI and sets strict compliance conditions before any funds are released. Clauses 6.6.3 and 7.1 require verified monthly attendance registers to ensure transparency and accountability, protecting both beneficiaries and government funding integrity.
Under the SLA, the DBE must upload attendance registers by the 15th of each month for DEL to process payments. DEL contributes a total of R4,013,000,000 toward the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative supporting the Education Assistants programme.
To date, a successful transfer of R1,956,500,000 was made on 27 June 2025 to enable programme rollout across all nine provinces.
“For the month of September, the DBE did not submit complete supporting documents, including attendance registers, on time. The UIF requires these registers for verification in line with the MFA to process invoices for payment to 158,000 beneficiaries from 20,000 schools,” the statement said.
A meeting between DBE, DEL, and UIF was held on 29 September 2025, during which DBE committed to submit the required documents.
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