Education
With regard to the developments at the Heathfield High School and the provincial government’s expenditure on the Wesley Neumann matter:
(1) (a) What is the total breakdown of the expenditure incurred by the provincial government and the WCED on the Wesley Neumann matter and (b) what (i) are the details of the expenditure items, (ii) is the cost per item from the beginning of the matter to date and (iii) are the details and cost of any outstanding payments;
(2) what is the (a) total breakdown of the legal costs for the appeal to be finalised and (b) detailed breakdown of costs incurred for arbitration thus far;
(3) whether his Department approved ad-hoc posts outside the official staff establishment for the Heathfield High School; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what is the total cost and/or amount allocated for this;
(4) whether the Municipal Act and/or South African Schools Act allow the deployment of law enforcement officers at schools to instil discipline; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) which laws were applied for the deployment of law enforcement officers at the school;
(5) what is the total cost for the deployment of law enforcement officers at the Heathfield High School to date?
[1] and [2]
|
|
Breakdown |
Expenditure Item |
Cost |
Outstanding amount |
|
|
Disciplinary Hearing |
Legal Representation |
R1 189 979.25 |
None |
|
|
|
Presiding Officer |
R85 525.00 |
None |
|
|
Legal Costs |
(a) Appeal |
R357 494.75 |
None |
|
|
|
(b) Arbitration |
R235 870.75 |
None |
|
|
|
Total |
R1 868 869.75 |
|
[3] To support teaching and learning at Heathfield High School, the Department allocated three additional teaching posts to the school, at the request from the district office, to employ three teachers to offer Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, and Life Orientation. The three additional posts were retained for the 2023 academic year and resulted in the creation of an extra Departmental Head and two post level 1 educator posts.
The additional posts were allocated within the affordable basket of posts for the 2022 academic year as declared in consultations with unions and School Governing Body associations.
No additional costs were therefore incurred.
[4] A Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the City of Cape Town is in place regarding the deployment of School Resource Officers (SROs) to our schools.
SROs perform various roles, including the provision of law enforcement services such as access control, search and seizure, and patrols; identifying and addressing, in collaboration with the principal and safety committee, the underlying problems at schools which might lead to disorder and crime; early identification of illegal activities by youth at risk; working to prevent juvenile delinquency, including truancy; and other supportive roles.
I note that the member has previously commended the programme, and called for the deployment of SROs to more schools, recognising the valuable role they play.
[5] There is no additional cost to the Department for this specific school, as the deployment falls under the SRO Project.
