SADTU MEDIA STATEMENT
19 September 2024
SADTU condemns the unlawful deductions from the salaries of educators by a company working with pseudo union, EUSA
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) condemns, in the strongest terms possible, the conduct of Treasury to allow unlawful deductions from the salaries of educators in Kwa Zulu Natal by a company called Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) collaborating with the Educators Union of South Africa (EUSA) purportedly as an insurance scheme. Unlawful deductions were made on the salaries of 8 808 educators without their knowledge and consent.
The conduct of the Treasury, RMA and EUSA is the clearest indication that the PERSAL system is unsafe and capable of manipulation by officials within Treasury to advance unlawful activities. RMA, as a registered Financial Service Provider, is fully aware of the rules which govern transactions of this nature and have no reason whatsoever to engage in such conduct. EUSA, a pseudo trade union, which is unable to secure organisational rights, cannot use methods such as insurance policies to take monies from members of other trade unions.
The deductions are not only unlawful but also border on fraud and theft. SADTU has instructed its attorneys to ensure that every cent is returned with interest to the affected educators. We have further instructed our attorneys to report this conduct to the relevant regulatory authorities and cause criminal proceedings to be instituted to ensure full accountability of all those involved.
In the current economic climate, Treasury is the last to allow this blatant theft from the salaries of state employees. We call upon Treasury, which is responsible for the public purse, to declare to South Africans whether public funds under their care are safe if they can allow access to the PERSAL system with such ease.
SADTU is calling on educators and other state employees to check their salary advice documents for any unlawful deductions by RMA or any other entity and report such immediately. Treasury must bow its head in shame for this glaring failure and possible corruption involving its officials. They (Treasury) must make public, the authorization the affected members gave for these unlawful deductions.
ISSUED BY: SADTU SECRETARIAT