Unlock this story — it’s free
The South African Youth Council (SAYC) in the Eastern Cape has commended the Office of the Premier (OTP) for immediately terminating its contract with Chippa Training Academy (CTA), citing persistent issues with unpaid stipends and failure to register interns for UIF. The move aims to protect the welfare of young beneficiaries enrolled under the NSF-funded internship programme.
What Happened
SAYC says it learned of the decision to end the partnership between OTP and CTA after a series of complaints from interns. The council described the relationship as “toxic,” alleging that interns had endured months of hardship due to delayed stipend payments, lack of UIF registration, and deductions that reduced their pay to as little as R5,500.
The organization noted that many interns came from disadvantaged backgrounds and struggled with transport costs and rent due to late payments.
Official Response
In a strongly worded statement, the provincial secretary of SAYC, Ms. Nondumiso Ngxuzula, said the termination was a step in the right direction to protect youth workers from exploitation. She pointed out that the council had raised alarms about CTA’s conduct and called on OTP to ensure accountability.
SAYC further demanded a full report from OTP and National Treasury on CTA’s handling of funds and the UIF registration process, calling for a full investigation into the alleged misconduct.
Community Impact
The council expressed relief that affected interns would no longer have to work under such conditions. SAYC urged OTP to put support systems in place to ensure that interns can settle rent arrears and other living expenses while waiting for outstanding payments.
SAYC warned that failure to hold CTA accountable may lead the council to pursue legal action.
