Uncertain future for district education head
Grahamstown Education District Director Reverend Amos Fetsha’s future is still undecided after the Eastern Cape Education Department placed him special leave earlier this year.
A breakdown of trust between Fetsha and his staff at the district office happened after allegations of poor leadership came from the staff in February this year.
During that time staff protested outside the district offices demanding the removal of Fetsha from the St Aidan’s Avenue premises.
Sources within the district office revealed that Fetsha was placed on precautionary suspension by the provincial department and that there was a person acting in his position.
But the provincial office dismissed those claims at the time and said Fetsha was reporting at the head office in King William’s Town.
However, yesterday, Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson, Mali Mtima confirmed that Fetsha was given special leave by the department months ago.
“The last time I checked it was (Mrs Nomgcobo) Futshane who was acting as a Grahamstown Education District Office Director.
“On conclusion of the investigation there will be processes that will be followed by the department. Right now I can’t say when the investigation would be finished.
“Remember that Fetsha was given the special leave because of the pending investigation and that is part of the labour regulations and human resources processes that need to be followed.
“You don’t just kick out a person and say I’m dismissing you because I have found you guilty.
You first have to investigate and then come with recommendations and then those recommendations can be implemented,” said Mtima.
Touching on the issue of a proposed district offices merger, Mtima said it was still being discussed by MEC Mandla Makupula and other relevant stakeholders.
The merger issue has been in talks for a while and newspaper reports revealed that it would cost the provincial department about R1 billion to restructure the district offices.
Mtima said there are a few items that still need to be discussed with relevant stake- holders before the merger is implemented. He said that there are areas that the stakeholders say they don’t understand well and need meaningful consultation.
“Meaningful consultation means that you have to meet with unions today, finish and agree with them, tomorrow meet with school governing bodies, conclude and agree with them too.
“The merging of the district offices has been delayed because the MEC is continuously engaging with stakeholders in another level. It was supposed to be implemented this year.
“The teachers’ unions say they need a meaningful consultation before implementation of the merger. However, they are fully supporting the merger.
“That means you don’t call them in one day and meet with them under one roof. That way they say (stakeholders) that what you doing is not meaningful and it’s like you are speeding up processes. All sectors need to understand the processes well,” said Mtima.
There are currently 23 Eastern Cape Education Districts and these would be decreased to 12 should the proposed merger go ahead.