By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
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Department of Basic Education (DBE) confirmed that payments for Education Assistants and General School Assistants under the Basic Education Employment Initiative (BEEI) are being rolled out in batches throughout the day, with most assistants expected to receive funds within 24 to 48 hours, depending on their banks.
The announcement was made during a joint media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya.
The education assistant program is governed by a Multiparty Funding Agreement (MFA) contract between the labour and basic education departments, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
As per the contractual agreement, the Service Level Agreement states that the DBE should submit attendance registers by the 15th of every month for the DEL to process payments.
In addition, Clauses 6.6.3 and 7.1 of the MFA state that verified attendance registers must be submitted as a precondition for releasing subsequent tranches.
Gwarube said that senior officials responsible for the delayed uploads will face disciplinary action once an internal review concludes.
She said the Director-General and Acting Director-General have been instructed to submit a report detailing what went wrong and how recurrence will be prevented.
“We will not allow this situation to happen again, we are putting in place stronger systems to ensure that payments are reliable, timely, and transparent.”
Gwarube added that the DBE is reviewing the BEEI’s internal governance structure to strengthen systems, clarify roles, and improve oversight. The programme will now be a standing item in meetings between the Director-General and provincial Heads of Department, while a formal Service Level Agreement between the DBE and IDC will soon be finalised.
“Schools that fail to comply with the submission of attendance registers will face serious consequences,” she warned.
Gwarube reaffirmed government’s commitment to restoring trust and stability in the initiative, which provides work and skills training opportunities to over 150,000 young South Africans.
“We owe it to these young people and to the schools and learners who depend on their contribution to manage this programme with diligence, excellence, integrity, and compassion. We dare not fail again.
Sibiya said the issue prompted urgent high-level engagements over the weekend.
“We recognise that when payments are delayed, it’s not just an inconvenience — it affects people’s dignity, their ability to pay for food, transport, and accommodation.
“That is why this government acted swiftly and decisively to resolve the matter.”
He noted that although the verification process is essential for accountability, future administrative procedures would be reviewed to ensure they do not inadvertently disadvantage beneficiaries.
“This has been a lesson in both accountability and reform,” Sibiya said. “We have tightened our internal processes — not to slow delivery, but to safeguard the integrity of every rand of public money.”
Over 158,000 young people work as assistants through the initiative, earning stipends to support schools across the country.