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Thousands of youths who are doing internship programmes at Ekurhuleni East and Tshwane North TVET Colleges have not received their monthly stipends since April due to delays in payments by the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA).

GCRA is an entity under the Gauteng Department of Education that promotes skills development in Gauteng through learnerships, internships, bursaries, and skills and career guidance programmes.

More than 7000 young people registered as interns are part of the GCRA bursary programme.

GCRA had informed Ekurhuleni East TVET College that there would be delays in the payment of April 2023 stipends due to pending vendor numbers of the students. They said the students would receive their stipends before the 10th of June, and it would be a double payment for those who started in April.

However, as of the 21st of June, this has not happened, and the interns are suffering without food and daily needs. These young people are supposed to receive their stipends by the end of each month.

It is disappointing that GDE has been silent on the issue, yet they are aware of the plight of these learners. The department cannot expect young people to attend their programs on empty stomachs and without much-needed necessities.

The DA demands that the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chilaone, urgently intervene to speed up the stipend payment issue and ensure that it never happens again.

Furthermore, GDE must closely monitor GCRA, following corruption and malfeasance pointed out by the Auditor General. The CEO changed the director and took powers to her office. The CEO also appointed companies and paid them without any work done.

The DA has tabled questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to establish why registered students have not received their stipends. It is unacceptable that this happens during youth month. GDE is failing our youth by delaying the payment of these stipends which will in no doubt negatively impact their ability to focus on this programme.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education