1. Western Cape Education Department (WCED) Circulars 45/2002 and 31/2003 deal with the payment of acting allowances to educators acting in higher (promotion) posts. This circular explains the procedure to be followed when educators are appointed to promotion posts in an acting capacity.

2. Acting allowances may be payable in cases where there is a vacant substantive post or when the permanent incumbent is absent for one of the following reasons:

  1. Maternity leave
  2. Sick leave
  3. Study leave
  4. Suspension
  5. Secondment
3. The nomination of an educator to act in a higher post where the post is vacant or when the permanent incumbent is absent, is done by the governance structure of the institution.

4. The following process must be followed for all promotion posts filled temporarily:
4.1 Where only one applicant qualifies to act in the vacant higher post, that person must assume the acting position automatically.
4.2 4.2 Where more than one applicant qualifies to act in the higher post, the governing body must advertise the vacant higher post internally by means of an advertisement on the staff notice board clearly stating the duties and the requirements of the post.
4.3 As it is imperative that the governance structure adheres to the contents of Circular 45/2002 (Resolution 8/2001) and Circular 31/2003 (Resolution 8/2002), an interview must be conducted.
4.4 If the post will not be filled permanently within six months, the acting position may be rotated to afford educators who qualify an opportunity to act in that post. This excludes the position of principal.

5. Should there be extraordinary circumstances which would lead to a deviation from the prescripts, prior approval must be obtained before a decision is made. The terms and conditions applicable to exceptional acting appointments are stipulated in paragraph 4 of Annexure A to both of the aforementioned Resolutions.

6. The authority to approve acting appointments is vested in the Head: Institutional Management and Governance (normal acting appointments) and the District Director (exceptional acting appointments) and therefore all requests for the necessary approval for acting appointments must be sent to the Circuit Team Manager concerned (and not to the Directorate: Human Resource Administration at the WCED Head Office).

Note: The nominating of educators to promotion posts in an acting capacity must be done on the attached DHA 2-form from 1 January 2011.

7. The minimum periods for payment, as per ELRC Resolution 8 of 2001 and 8 of 2002, are as follows:

  • Higher vacant and funded post: 6 weeks
  • Higher post vacant on account of absence of permanent incumbent (refer to paragraph 2 above ): 12 weeks
8. Please bring this circular to the attention of all educators and members of the governing body, and request them to sign and date an acknowledgement that they are aware of its contents.


SIGNED: PA VINJEVOLD
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2010:11:12

Resolution 8/2001  (size: 68 KB)
Resolution 8/2002  (size: 64 KB)
DHA 2 Form: Acting Appointment to Educator's Post  (size: 173 KB)