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By Johnathan Paoli
The Basic Education and Employment and Labour departments have confirmed a further delay in the payment of September stipends for some education assistants (EAs) and general school assistants (GSAs) employed under Phase V of the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI).
Both departments urged affected assistants to remain in contact with district offices for assistance, reiterating that stipends for Treasury-funded schools are on track, and stressing that the September delay is isolated to those funded through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)’s Labour Activation Programme.
“The Departments reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that all young people in the programme are paid without further delay. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Assistants for their patience and understanding during this period,” the departments said in a joint statement.
The setback affects only those assistants working at schools funded outside of the National Treasury’s allocations.
Those employed in schools directly funded by the Treasury will receive their stipends on time.
The delay stems from challenges in the submission and verification of required documentation from schools to the programme’s second funder, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) Labour Activation Programme.
According to the departments, the issue is primarily administrative but has disrupted payments that thousands of young assistants rely on for basic living expenses.
Both departments stressed that urgent steps are being taken to fast-track the processing of outstanding documents and to ensure compliance with the UIF’s processes.
“Affected Assistants can therefore expect their stipends to be disbursed in due course,” the statement read.
The BEEI, currently in its fifth phase, was first launched in 2020 as part of the Presidential Employment Stimulus aimed at reducing youth unemployment while supporting the education sector.
Through the initiative, thousands of young people have been placed in schools as EAs and GSAs, assisting teachers in classrooms, providing administrative support, and helping to improve the overall learning environment.
The programme has been widely welcomed but has also faced recurring concerns over delayed stipend payments since its inception.
The departments extended appreciation to assistants for their patience and understanding, stating that district and provincial teams have been tasked with handling queries from affected assistants and to offer real-time updates on the status of payments.
The departments emphasised that no assistant will be left unpaid, underscoring their commitment to resolving the delays with minimal disruption.
The UIF Labour Activation Programme, which co-funds part of the BEEI, requires stringent verification of documents submitted by schools before funds are released.
This process, according to officials, ensures compliance and accountability but has been identified as a recurring source of delay.
Efforts are now under way to improve coordination between schools, provincial education departments and funders to avoid similar challenges in the future.
The departments’ joint statement also sought to reassure stakeholders that the initiative remains a vital component of South Africa’s education and employment landscape.
The BEEI has created work opportunities for more than 700,000 young people since its launch and remains one of the largest youth employment programmes in the country; with many in the sector acknowledging its broader impact on both youth livelihoods and the functioning of schools.
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