Members of teachers trade union South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) marched to both the Department of Basic Education and National Treasury to demand an immediate end to the government’s austerity measures which have had a negative impact on the quality of education in the country.
The march started at the Old Marabastad bus depot and proceeded to the Department of Basic Education before moving to the National Treasury offices where memorandums were handed in.
About 10 000 SADTU members supported by members of student body Congress of South African students (COSAS) were in attendance.
SADTU Secretary General Dr Mugwena Maluleke told Tshwane Talks that the purpose of the march was to call upon the government to immediately stop austerity measures and budget cuts in the education sector, and instead invest more in education.
“Education is a catalyst, education is a game-changer and these austerity measures have caused serious crisis in the education sector like an increase in overcrowding with the number of learners increasing in classrooms, and this has led to some teachers leaving the profession, leading to learners being devoid of individual attention from teachers, and individual attention is very important for them to be able to learn,” he said.
“If school infrastructure is dilapidated to the extend that even animals therein, then that is an insult that undermines the dignity of our teachers and teachers; an insult that undermines our economy because the unpleasant situation at schools leads to learner dropouts and the country loses skills and human capital it was supposed to enjoy,” he said.
“Without teachers and learners there is no future, and that is why we are saying the government must protect our future by investing in our education,” said Maluleka.
“We can’t continue to have a situation whereby our teachers resign en masse due to the unbearable and deplorable situation that they are faced with on a daily basis at our schools,” he said.
He said SADTU has given the Minister of Basic Education 21 days to address their grievances, failing which SADTU would be left with no other option but to embark on an industrial action (strike), because that would mean politicians can’t hear SADTU and if politicians can’t hear SADTU then they will meet SADTU in the streets, and added that it’s a pity that their strike action will lead to the education of the children suffering; all this because of politicians.
A Congress of South African Students president Kamogelo Nkosi called upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to remove Minister Siviwe Qwarube from her position because they as COSAS don’t want a DA Minister.
Basic Education DDG Dr Grantville Whittle accepted the memorandum on behalf of the Minister and promised that SADTU’s demands shall be considered.
The Deputy Director General of National Treasury Stadi mngomezulu told the marching teachers that his department will respond within 21 days as requested in the memorandum.
“I am putting my head on the block and I am telling you that as Treasury we shall respond within the stipulated timeframe,” he said.