Social workers wait for salaries

GRAHAMSTOWN -- Angry and frustrated social workers of the local child and family welfare society yesterday expressed outrage at the non-payment of their salaries from the Bisho Welfare Department.

Their salaries had not been paid since March this year, said the eight social workers who refused to be named.

They claimed to have phoned and faxed the Bisho offices but had not received any response.

They are owed a total of R29000.

The workers were allegedly told that their salaries would be paid when MEC Ncumisa Kondlo visited the area this week.

As a result of the non-payment the workers said they were demoralised and could not work "up to standard if we do not have the money we are working for."

Welfare department spokesperson Gcobani Maswana claimed that all the social workers had been paid this week.

The only people who were yet to be paid were assistant probation officers who were employed in March this year. -- ECN