Unemployed KZN teachers stage sit-in at education offices, expose alleged hiring bribes

Unemployed teachers have pitched camp outside the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education’s provincial head offices in Pietermaritzburg in a bid to draw attention to their prolonged unemployment and what they describe as a broken recruitment system.

The teachers, some of whom have been without work for as long as eight years, say they have a list of grievances they want the department’s leadership to formally receive.

Nkosingiphile Xulu, 28, from Nkandla said the group was determined to remain at the offices until their concerns were addressed.

“Today is our third day here and we are not going anywhere. We are tired of sitting at home with qualifications. If no one is willing to see us, we will continue waking up every morning and camping here. Enough is enough,” said Xulu, a University of KwaZulu-Natal graduate who has been unemployed for six years.

“It has been six years of not finding employment. We are facing a very difficult situation as teachers,” he added.

Nkosinathi Shezi, 35, from Mzinyathi said they had exhausted all formal channels to seek employment, but their efforts had fallen on deaf ears.

“Our applications don’t even get feedback. That is why we are beginning to doubt the provincial recruitment programme,” said Shezi.

He said they were instructed to register on the department’s database, but none of the applicants had received any response.

“We want to know what is going on and what we must do to get work like others. Living like this is very hard,” said Shezi, a Durban University of Technology (DUT) graduate who has been unemployed for five years.

Vamisile Buthelezi, 38, from KwaDukuza said she had lost the strength to continue fighting but suspected that something was amiss within the recruitment system.

“Sometimes you see someone who has just graduated getting a job immediately. You can’t help but wonder what is really going on,” said Buthelezi.

Nokuzola Radebe, 30, from KwaMashu said she had nearly given up hope that her situation would ever improve, which is why she joined the sit-in.

Radebe, who graduated from Unisa six years ago, said she hoped senior officials at the department would take their grievances seriously.

She made serious allegations that unemployed teachers were being told to pay R30 000 to secure teaching posts.

“There are people who approach us and say you must pay R30 000 so that you can be employed,” she said.

“It seems to work because those who pay the R30 000 are currently employed,” Radebe alleged.

Thuleleni Ngwazi, 36, from Inanda, also a Unisa graduate, said he has been unemployed for four years.

Another protester, Zamile Ngcobo, 34, became emotional as she described her ordeal, saying at times she felt death would be better than her current circumstances. The University of Zululand graduate has been unemployed for eight years.

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi dismissed the sit-in, saying it would not assist the teachers.

“It is not correct for qualified teachers to behave in this manner. Teachers are employed based on specific needs,” said Mahlambi.

“Some teachers who previously staged sit-ins are now working. However, what they are doing will not allow them to jump the queue,” he said.

On Tuesday, the teachers were joined by the uMkhonto weSizwe Party's Labour and Civic Organisation who offered support to the teachers.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE