Question 2102
Ms D Carter (Cope) to ask the Minister of Basic Education:
Whether her department has taken any steps against educators who have been (a) reporting late for work, (b) leaving early, (c) continuously staying away from duty or (d) absenting themselves for long periods at a time without valid reasons; if not, why not; if so, (i) what steps and (ii) what are the further relevant details in each case? NW2503E
Reply:
1. My department regards (a) reporting late for work, (b) leaving early, (c) continuously staying away from duty or (d) absenting themselves for long periods at a time without valid reasons as acts of misconduct and has taken steps in dealing with them. The steps taken are provided for in section 18 of the Employment of Educators Act (EEA), (Act 76 of 1998), read with Schedule 2 of the Act.
2. Educators who (c) continuously stay away from duty or (d) absent themselves for long periods at a time without valid reasons are also dealt with in terms section 14.1 (a) of the EEA. In terms of this Act, educators who have been absent for a period exceeding 14 consecutive days without the permission of the employer and without proving valid reasons are deemed to be discharged from employment.
3. Depending on the circumstances and merits of each case, reported misconduct cases undergo a formal disciplinary processs resulting in sanctions ranging from counselling and rehabilitations, verbal warnings, written warnings, final written warnings, fines, suspensions without pay, demotions, dismissals, not guilty, cases withdrawn to combinations of sanctions.
Source: Department of Education
