Eastern Cape teacher wins promotion battle after school appointed candidate with lower score
The ELRC found that an Eastern Cape teacher was unfairly denied a departmental-head post after scoring 92 points, while the appointed candidate scored 80.
An Eastern Cape teacher, Thembani Ngqele, has won a promotion battle after the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) found that he was unfairly overlooked for the Departmental Head-English position at Fezeka Primary School in Peddie. Ngqele scored 92 points during the interview process, while the appointed candidate, Yamkelani Peacock, scored 80 points.
The ELRC determined that the Eastern Cape Department of Education acted unfairly both procedurally and substantively by not appointing Ngqele. Ngqele, who has been working for the department since 2020, challenged the decision represented by the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). The department has been ordered to reverse Peacock's appointment and promote Ngqele to the position with effect from September 1, 2026.
The ELRC found that the principal, who was part of the selection panel, expressed opposition to internal candidates before the interviews and became angry when Ngqele emerged as the highest-scoring candidate. The panel rejected the department's argument that the appointment of Peacock was justified due to a shortage of teachers at the school, as the shortage had existed for years and could not be used as a justification for unfair treatment.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
