Dear Portfolio Committee on Higher Education,

We, the undersigned NSF Apprenticeship participants hosted by MECTOM Skills Development and Training (Pty) Ltd, write to formally lodge a grievance and request your urgent intervention regarding serious and ongoing issues that have undermined the integrity of our apprenticeship program.

Since the commencement of our contracts in January 2022, we have consistently faced delayed and irregular stipend payments, as well as a lack of transparency and accountability from the host company. These issues have created financial hardship, disrupted our training, and placed many of us in vulnerable positions.
Summary of Issues:

•Delayed Payments (2022): The first stipend was only received in March 2022, with the second in October 2022. Months in between were skipped despite active participation in the program.

•Irregular Payments (2023 onwards): In 2023, more than half of the monthly stipends were not paid. Many participants were forced to borrow money to attend training, and those from outside Tzaneen (Mpumalanga, Phalaborwa, Hoedspruit, etc.) struggled with rent and transport costs.

•Forced Training Suspension: At one point, we were instructed by MECTOM to remain at home for nearly five months without support, before being told to resume. Payments thereafter only covered two months and did not resolve prior arrears.

•Outstanding Stipends: To date, there remain approximately six months of unpaid stipends affecting over 22 apprentices across various groups (including Electrical Engineering).

•Withholding of Certificates: We have been informed that certificates will not be released until the scheduled graduation ceremony in October 2025, despite the fact that many of us require them now to apply for employment opportunities. We believe this is unreasonable and unfair.

Our Requests for Intervention:

1. Immediate settlement of all outstanding stipend payments to affected apprentices.
2. Transparent communication from both NSF and MECTOM regarding the causes of delays and measures being implemented to prevent further irregularities.
3. Release of certificates prior to the ceremony, or at minimum, provision of official proof of completion/competence for job application purposes.
4. Independent investigation into the administration of this apprenticeship program to ensure accountability and compliance with NSF standards.

We have previously raised these concerns with MECTOM and even with NSF officials during site visits, but the issues remain unresolved. In some cases, we were even discouraged from engaging NSF directly, which raises further concerns about governance and transparency.

As apprentices who entered this program in good faith, we feel disheartened that our livelihoods, career prospects, and trust in the NSF initiative have been compromised. We remain committed to completing our training, but we urgently need NSF to step in and uphold the rights and welfare of learners.

We kindly request a written response and a clear action plan within a reasonable time of this correspondence.
Respectfully,