Latest news with #BEEI
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng Education Department issues apology over assistant teachers' payment delays
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has issued a public apology for the payment delays affecting over 8,000 assistant teachers who were recently recruited under the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI). Image: Oupa Mokoena / Independent Newspapers The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has apologised for the delays in processing the details of some of its assistant teachers who have not been paid their stipends this past month. This comes as the new programme involving more than 8,000 assistant teachers began early last month. As a result of the delays, the department has indicated that some might not be paid. "The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) wishes to notify the public, particularly education and general assistants, of potential delays in payment due to an ongoing data verification process. Education and general assistants, of potential delays in payment due to an ongoing data verification process. The placement of assistants officially began on 1 June 2025 across various participating schools under the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI)," departmental spokesperson, Steve Mabona said on Monday. One of the assistants based in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, said that she is yet to be paid due to the delays in verification of her details; however, she remains hopeful that she will soon get her stipend. "I am one of the assistant teachers who have not been paid due to the delays. We have been told that we will be paid as soon as the process has been finalised. I hope this will be done by end of this new month. I know that some of the assistants have received their pay slips, and they have been paid," she said. The assistants were recruited as part of the provincial government's efforts in supporting teaching and learning, with Mabona stating that the department acknowledges and commends their contributions to the education system following their recent placements across schools in the province. According to the department, the delays are due to incomplete submission of personal and banking details and other challenges. "While a number of schools have successfully confirmed placements and submitted validated data, a portion of submissions remains under review due to issues such as duplicate or invalid ID numbers, incorrect banking details, and incomplete data entries. These issues have impacted the speed of the verification process. As a result, only assistants whose details have been verified and cleared will receive payment in batches," he stated.
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Gauteng education department clarifies payment delays for education and general assistants
The Gauteng department of education (GDE) has confirmed that some education and general assistants may face delays in receiving their stipends due to an ongoing data verification process. The assistants were placed at schools from June 1 as part of the basic education employment initiative (BEEI), a programme aimed at supporting teaching and learning in classrooms across the province. While several schools have completed and submitted verified data for payment, others are still under review. The department said the delays were caused by 'duplicate or invalid ID numbers, incorrect banking details and incomplete data entries'. 'As a result, only assistants whose details have been verified and cleared will receive payment in batches. Those still undergoing verification will be paid once their data is finalised,' said GDE. About 8,000 assistants may be affected in the first payment cycle. The department has urged schools and districts to inform assistants accordingly. The GDE has assured all qualifying participants that they will receive their full payments once the verification process is completed. 'The department is working tirelessly to complete this process before the end of July.'
Mail & Guardian
18-06-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Academic offers mental health support to education assistants placed at North West schools
Dr Khido Ramadie. As Phase 5 of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) prepares to place thousands of young education assistants in schools across South Africa, support for their mental and emotional well-being is coming into sharper focus. In the North West province, an academic from the North-West University (NWU) is stepping in to provide such support to the 1 326 assistants allocated to the province. Dr Khido Ramadie, a mental health counsellor and academic in the NWU's Faculty of Education, is working closely with the North West Provincial Department of Education to offer mental health and wellness support to the province's youth education assistants. 'These young assistants are often caught between being learners and authority figures,' says Dr Ramadie. 'That can lead to identity challenges, self-doubt and social isolation, especially in unfamiliar school environments.' BEEI Phase 5, scheduled to begin in June 2025, forms part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. It provides job opportunities to young people while easing the workload on educators. However, the psychological toll on participants has drawn increasing attention. 'Many of them experience anxiety, burnout and financial stress due to delayed or inconsistent stipends,' says Dr Ramadie. 'Support must be holistic, covering emotional care, financial literacy, physical wellness and a sense of belonging.' Her services include wellness workshops, peer support structures and access to counselling. The initiative also promotes physical health through education on nutrition, managing fatigue and encouraging balanced workloads to reduce absenteeism. 'We are not addressing mental health in isolation,' she explains. 'We are creating a framework that equips youth to cope in demanding school settings and develop personally while contributing meaningfully to the education sector.' Using research-informed methods, Dr Ramadie and her team will monitor participant well-being throughout the programme, providing data-driven insights to inform support strategies. 'This is about more than just filling posts,' she says. 'It's about ensuring that those who are placed in schools are emotionally and physically ready to make a lasting impact.' As BEEI Phase 5 gets under way, the focus is shifting from placement alone to sustainable support, ensuring that those who are hired are also heard.
The Citizen
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
New platform Spaan opens new path for South African job seekers
With over 100 000 users in two months, Spaan is revolutionising job hunting in SA by providing verified, shareable profiles for job seekers. Founder and CEO of Spaan Afika Nontso with broadcaster Anele Mdoda at the media launch in Rosebank, Johannesburg on 10 June 2025. Picture: Nigel Sibanda Amid an above-30% youth unemployment crisis in South Africa, Spaan, the country's first verification-led employment platform, was yesterday officially launched in Johannesburg. Founder Afika Nontso said the platform was 'built to restore trust, dignity, expand access and connect job seekers to real opportunities'. Bridging the gap between tech and accessibility A SAP software product consultant and entrepreneur, Nontso has spent years working on innovative solutions that bridge the gap between technology and accessibility. With extensive experience in USSD, a communications protocol used by GSM cellphone projects, employment solutions and a 'passion for empowering underserved communities', Nontso said he has 'learnt how technology can give people access to jobs'. 'Within two months of being established, our registration has totalled 100 000. This is when I realised that a number of people are out there hungry for job opportunities. 'Verification, inclusivity and accessibility' 'Verification, inclusivity and accessibility is at the core of the platform,' said Nontso. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa urges employers to give BEEI youths their 'next opportunity' At the heart of the Spaan report is a shareable, verified profile, confirming a candidate's personal details, identity and qualifications. Spaan chief marketing officer Tlali Taoana said the platform was designed to 'reduce friction in hiring – helping employers access credible, pre-vetted talent, while giving job-seekers a fair and trusted way to stand out and prove they are ready to work'. Designed for all job markets Taoana said Spaan was inclusive by design, working across devices and accessible via mobile, USSD and WhatsApp. 'Whether you are a domestic worker in Soweto, a technician in Polokwane or a graduate in Cape Town, Spaan empowers you to show up with proof and be recognised in both the informal and formal job market. 'Through targeted national campaigns in townships, universities, informal markets and small, medium and micro enterprise networks, Spaan is already activating across the country connecting freelancers, tradespeople and professionals to meaningful employment.' For employers, Spaan simplifies recruitment, said Taoana. NOW READ: The dark picture of youth unemployment in South Africa
The Citizen
10-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Ramaphosa defends transformation, we must dispense false notion
Ramaphosa said economic growth without transformation entrenches exclusion and transformation without growth is unsustainable. President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended transformation, saying black empowerment is 'vital to inclusive economic growth.' Writing in his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa emphasised that 2025 marks the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the country is reminded of its 'aspiration that the people shall share in the country's wealth.' 'Our Constitution reflects the promise we made to one another and to future generations to redress the injustices of our past and realise the full potential of our country. 'For this reason, we reaffirm that broad-based black economic empowerment is not just a policy choice but a constitutional imperative,' Ramaphosa said. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa urges employers to give BEEI youths their 'next opportunity' Inequality The president said that according to Statistics SA, between 2006 and 2023, black African households experienced real income growth of 46%, coloured households of 29% and Indian households of 19%. 'Despite this progress, the average income of white households is still nearly five times higher than that of black African households. This is the gulf we must close through deliberate and sustained efforts to expand opportunity. 'Transformation is not a favour. It is a necessity. The inequality of our past continues to shape the lives of millions of black South Africans. And yet many who continue to benefit from the legacy of exclusion continue to decry black economic empowerment and are even challenging it in our courts,' Ramaphosa said. 'False notion' Ramaphosa said economic growth without transformation entrenches exclusion, and transformation without growth is unsustainable. 'We must dispense with the false notion that we must make a choice between growth and transformation. 'We also need to challenge the notion that broad-based black economic empowerment is a cost to the economy. It is actually an investment in the economy,' Ramaphosa said. Last week, Ramaphosa came out swinging against critics of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), questioning whether their opposition is rooted in 'greed' or 'jealousy'. ALSO READ: US visit came amid 'increasing strain' between two countries, Ramaphosa says
