Eighty-three employees from the Francistown School for the Deaf and the Ramotswa Centre for Deaf Education are reeling from two months of unpaid salaries, plunging them into severe hardship. The affected staff are now urgently appealing to the government to intervene, citing devastating consequences from the delays.
Many workers are facing eviction, struggling to put food on the table, and unable to purchase essential medications unavailable at public hospitals. Some employees were even unable to vote in recent elections, as they could not afford transportation to their registered polling stations.
The crisis extends beyond staff, impacting the schools’ deaf learners. Reports reveal that due to financial constraints, students, including preschoolers, are being fed the same meal—samp—for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, sometimes repeating the cycle day after day.
Documents submitted to Ramotswa MP Boniface Mabeo expose a long history of salary delays dating back to 2012, with six instances recorded this year alone. Frustrated employees are calling out the government for failing to honor its promise of agility and respect for human rights.
This worsening situation raises urgent questions about the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and safeguarding the basic rights of its citizens, particularly in institutions dedicated to empowering the deaf community.
