Education

My Department has informed me of the following:
(a) As the member has not specified which amounts are being referred to, the
assumption has been made that an update is sought on the total figures
in the previous reply.
Total cost for litigation since 2020/21: R38 900 127.60
The costs to date in relation to the particular ex-employee: R 3 444 229.46
The educator was dismissed having been found guilty of charges including
failure to carry out a lawful order, disrespect in the form of abusive or
insolent behaviour, and misusing his position by inciting staff and learners
on social media platforms not to report for duty or to attend school.
The educator took the matter further to the ELRC for arbitration, which
found in the WCED’s favour citing that the dismissal was “procedurally and
substantively fair.”
The educator has taken the matter further to the Labour Court and High
Court. The matter in the Labour Court has been argued and judgment has
been reserved. The educator has not taken any steps to progress his
matter in the High Court.
Accordingly, the large majority of the legal fees incurred by the WCED to
date in these matters have been as a result of challenges to the internal
disciplinary proceedings and various ancillary challenges brought by the
educator, who continues to launch new applications in various fora, which
the department is entitled and, given its view on the merits, obliged to
defend.
(b) The member is advised that all papers filed in the numerous Court
proceedings underlying the stated expenditure is publicly available and
may be obtained from the relevant fora via their respective processes for
the drawing of files.