NN 13/2026
VERLOF EN DIE REËL VAN
PLAASVERVANGERS
Die SAOU ontvang deurgaans navrae rakende wanneer ‘n opvoeder geregtig sal wees om aansoek te doen vir verlof vir dringende privaat sake.
Hoofstuk H.10 van die Personeel Administratiewe Maatreëls (PAM) verduidelik in watter gevalle ‘n opvoeder vir gesinsverantwoordelikheidsverlof asook verlof vir dringende privaat sake aansoek kan doen. Vir die doeleindes van hierdie nuusbrief gaan ons slegs fokus op die laasgenoemde.
Hoofstuk H.10.6 van die PAM bepaal dat spesiale verlof vir ‘n opvoeder toegestaan kan word om ‘n dringende private aangeleentheid by te woon indien die aard van die aangeleentheid die opvoeder se afwesigheid regverdig. Alhoewel die PAM nie duidelike vereistes stel waaraan ‘n aangeleentheid moet voldoen om as dringend beskou te word nie, is daar tog ‘n paar ongeskrewe riglyne wat provinsiale onderwys-departemente volg:
- Gaan die opvoeder ‘n finansiële verlies ly indien die verlof nie toegestaan word nie?
- Is die opvoeder se teenwoordigheid in verband met die privaat aangeleentheid noodsaaklik?
- Sal dit onbillik wees om die verlof af te keur of nie aan te beveel nie aangesien dringendheid ‘n relatiewe term is?
Indien daar op een van die bovermelde riglyne “ja” geantwoord word, sal die aard van die verlof heel waarskynlik as dringend beskou kan word en moedig die SAOU lede aan om hul aansoek vir dringende privaat sake daarvolgens te motiveer.
Kan daar van ‘n opvoeder verwag word om stawende dokumentasie as ‘n bewys van dringendheid in te dien?
Weens die feit dat daar ‘n element van privaatheid gekoppel word aan hierdie tipe verlof, sal ‘n opvoeder geregtig wees om op sy of haar reg op privaatheid te steun indien stawende dokumentasie versoek word. Stawende dokumentasie kan egter die aansoek ondersteun en die kanse dat die aansoek goedgekeur word, verbeter.
Is onbetaalde verlof 'n opsie indien jou aansoek vir verlof vir dringende privaat sake nie aanbeveel word nie of afgekeur word?
Dit is belangrik om te verstaan dat verlof sonder betaling ook onderhewig is aan goedkeuring. Die kanse dat dit goedgekeur word, is egter skraal indien die verlof vir dringende privaat sake afgekeur word.
Mag daar van ‘n opvoeder verwag word om ‘n plaasvervanger te voorsien en te vergoed as voorwaarde vir die aanbeveling van hierdie tipe verlof?
Nee, dit kan nie van 'n opvoeder verwag word om 'n plaasvervanger te reël en betaal nie. Die SAOU wil dit baie duidelik stel dat so ‘n verwagting onwettig is en nie deur opvoeders uitgevoer moet word nie, op grond van die volgende redes:
- Die Wet op Indiensneming van Opvoeders 76 van 1998, Hoofstuk 2, paragraaf 7(2)(b) bepaal dat ‘n persoon aangestel kan word in ‘n tydelike hoedanigheid vir ‘n vasgestelde tydperk hetsy voltyds, deeltyds of in ‘n gedeelde kapasiteit. Hierdie spesifieke hoofstuk in die Wet bepaal dat aanstellings vir diens in ‘n provinsiale departement van onderwys deur die Hoof van Onderwys gemaak moet word.
- Elke provinsiale departement van onderwys begroot vir ‘n sekere hoeveelheid fondse wat beskikbaar sal wees vir die vergoeding van tydelike aanstellings met spesifieke verwysing na plaasvervangers. Elke provinsie beskik oor ‘n beleid wat bepaal wanneer ‘n skool sal kwalifiseer om aansoek te doen vir ‘n plaasvervanger waar die permanente opvoeder afwesig is weens ouerskapverlof, siekverlof of studieverlof.
- Artikel 20(1)(j) van die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolewet 84 van 1996, soos gewysig, bepaal dat ‘n Beheerliggaam die aanstelling van ‘n opvoeder of ‘n nie-opvoeder moet aanbeveel by die Hoof van Onderwys.
- Indien ‘n skool nie kwalifiseer vir ‘n plaasvervanger vanaf die provinsiale onderwys-departement nie, moet die Beheerliggaam ‘n plaasvervanger aanstel en dienooreenkomstig vergoed. ‘n Beheerliggaam moet dus jaarliks vir die vergoeding van plaasvervangers begroot.
Dit is dus duidelik dat die bovermelde wetgewing die aanstelling van plaasvervangers reguleer en skole moet daarvolgens handel. Daar kan nie van ‘n opvoeder verwag word om ‘n plaasvervanger te identifiseer, te reël en self te vergoed vir sy of haar dienste vir ‘n bepaalde tydperk nie.
Indien jy twyfel of vrae het oor die onderwerp, moet asseblief nie huiwer om jou provinsiale SAOU-kantoor of die SAOU Regsafdeling te kontak nie.
2026/05/05
LEAVE AND ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING SUBSTITUTES
The SAOU constantly receives enquiries regarding when an educator is entitled to apply for leave for urgent private affairs.
Chapter H.10 of the Personnel Administrative Measures (PAM) explains in which cases an educator will be able to apply for family responsibility leave as well as leave for urgent private matters. The main purpose of this newsletter is to focus on the latter.
Chapter H.10.6 of the PAM states that special leave may be granted to an educator to attend to an urgent private matter if the nature of the matter justifies the educator’s absence. Although the PAM does not set out clear requirements that a matter must meet to be considered urgent in nature, there are some unwritten guidelines that provincial education departments follow:
- Will the educator suffer a financial loss if the leave is not granted?
- Is the presence of the educator with regard to the private matter necessary?
- Would it be unfair to deny or not recommend the leave since urgency is a relative term?
If the answer to any of the above guidelines is “yes”, the nature of the leave will most likely be considered urgent and the SAOU encourages members to motivate their application for urgent private affairs accordingly.
Can it be expected of an educator to submit supporting documentation as proof of urgency?
Due to the fact that there is an element of privacy attached to this type of leave, an educator will be entitled to rely on his or her right to privacy if supporting documentation is requested. However, supporting documentation can support the application and increase the chances that the application will be approved.
Can unpaid leave be considered if your application for urgent private affairs is not recommended or approved?
It is important to understand that leave without pay is also subject to approval, thus it is not likely that it will be approved if leave for urgent private affairs is denied.
May an educator be held responsible to arrange for and pay a substitute as a condition of recommending this type of leave?
No, it cannot be expected of an educator to arrange for and pay a substitute. The SAOU wants to make it very clear that such a requirement is illegal and should not be carried out by educators, based on the following reasons:
- The Employment of Educators Act 76 of 1998, Chapter 2, paragraph 7(2)(b) states that a person can be appointed in a temporary capacity for a fixed period either full-time, part-time or in a shared capacity. This specific chapter in the Act states that appointments for service in a provincial department of education must be made by the Head of Department.
- Each provincial department of education budgets for a certain amount of funds that will be available for the compensation of temporary appointments with specific reference to substitutes. Each province has a policy that determines when a school will qualify to apply for a substitute where the permanent educator is absent due to parental leave, sick leave or study leave.
- Section 20(1)(j) of the South African Schools Act 84 of 1996, as amended, states that a Governing Body must recommend the appointment of an educator or a non-educator to the Head of Department.
- If a school does not qualify for a substitute from the provincial education department, the Governing Body must appoint a substitute and remunerate him or her accordingly. Therefore, a Governing Body must budget for the remuneration of substitutes annually.
Consequently, it is clear that the above-mentioned legislation regulates the appointment of substitutes and schools must act accordingly. It cannot be expected of an educator to identify, arrange for and remunerate the substitute for services rendered for a specified period of time.
If you have doubts or questions on the matter, please do not hesitate to contact your provincial SAOU office or SAOU Legal Department.
Damesleierskapseminaar 2026
Dit is weer tyd vir die immergewilde damesleierskap-seminaar!
Leierskap gaan nie net oor bestuur nie; dit gaan oor die dapperheid om standvastig te bly wanneer dit die meeste saak maak. Ons nooi alle aspirant-damesleiers in die onderwys uit na 'n bemagtigende seminaar wat fokus op ons 2026-tema: Waar Moed en Leierskap Ontmoet.
Ware leierskap vereis die hart om te inspireer en die ruggraat om te besluit. Hierdie seminaar is ontwerp om jou te help om daardie gaping te oorbrug en jou potensiaal in 'n kragtige teenwoordigheid in jou skool en gemeenskap te omskep.
Datum: 28 - 29 Augustus 2026
Plek: Boardwalk Hotel en Konferensiesentrum, Gqeberha
WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP SEMINAR 2026
It's again time for the ever-popular women's leadership seminar!
Leadership is not just about management; it is about the courage to stand firm when it matters most. We invite all aspiring women leaders in education to an empowering seminar focused on our 2026 theme: Where Courage and Leadership Meet.
True leadership requires the heart to inspire and the backbone to decide. This seminar is designed to help you bridge that gap and transform your potential into a powerful presence in your school and community.
Date: 28 - 29 August 2026
Venue: Boardwalk Hotel and Conference Centre, Gqeberha
Hoofdesimposium 2026
Dis tyd om in te tree, jou posisie te verbeter en daardie leierskapspiere te laat bult! Ons nooi graag alle skoolhoofde en adjunkhoofde – beide mans en vroue – om by ons aan te sluit vir die krag-geleentheid van die jaar: Die 30ste SAOU Hoofdesimposium.
Leierskap is nie net 'n titel nie; dis 'n uithouvermoësport. Hierdie jaar fokus ons op die "swaar werk" van skoolbestuur, wat jou die strategie en stamina bied wat nodig is om jou skool na oorwinning te lei.
Die SAOU Hoofdesimposium 2026 beloof om, weereens, alle verwagtinge te oortref!
Datum: 30 Augustus – 2 September 2026
Plek: Boardwalk Hotel en Konferensiesentrum, Gqeberha
Registreer hier - daar is slegs beperkte plekke beskikbaar.
Principals' symposium 2026
It's time to step up, improve your position and flex those leadership muscles! We invite all principals and deputy principals – both male and female – to join us for this years power event: The 30th SAOU Principals Symposium.
Leadership is not just a title; it's an endurance sport. This year, we're focusing on the "heavy lifting" of school management, providing you with the strategy and stamina needed to lead your school to victory
The SAOU Principals’ Symposium 2026 promises to, once again, exceed all expectations!
Date: 30 August – 2 September 2026
Venue: Boardwalk Hotel and Conference Centre, Gqeberha
Register here - there are only limited places available.
