Durban – The DA in KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed a decision by the national Treasury to pay R23m due to educational therapists.

“The agreement spells very good news for the many education therapists in our province who provide an invaluable service, often under very trying circumstances, to extremely vulnerable children, often with both mental and physical challenges,” DA spokesperson Tom Stokes said.

The provincial education department had confirmed that it would begin paying R23m due to the educational therapists in October, he said in a statement.

The 160 educational therapists had been paid less than their counterparts in the country for the past five years.

“Their qualifications and experience are vital. To have lost them over a salary dispute would have been tragic,” he said.

– SAPA