The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has threatened a countrywide strike should the government fail to respond to its demands in 21 days.
SADTU, supported by its mother body, COSATU, led a national protest march on Wednesday, to the offices of National Treasury, Department of Basic Education and Department of Higher Education and Training in Pretoria against austerity measures in public education.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, SADTU’ Secretary General Dr. Mugwena Mululeke said they’re members have already indicated their willingness to embark on a protest should the government continue to ignore their demands.
“Our members were very clear that, enough is enough and therefore will not hesitate to vote for a nationwide protest. So, they said after 21 days if there’s no progress on those issues, we must come back to them and a final decision will be made,” said Maluleke.
In addition, Maluleke said that the budget cuts have exacerbated the situation facing educators in the public education sector.
“This action forms part of SADTU’s ongoing resistance against persistent budget cuts and so-called austerity measures that we are unambiguously calling for its cancellation. These measures are negatively impacting the education sector and public services. The union warns that the erosion of public education funding paves way for increased privatisation of the sector,” explained the Secretary General.
According to Maluleke, the sector has lost over R8.5 billion over the years.
“By 2020 the Department was requested to cut the budget by almost about R8.5 billion.As time goes on, we’re running short of R15 billion for us to be able to make some kind of progress in terms of appointing people in promotional posts. To appoint enough teachers to substitute those that are not at school and support personnel which will help in terms of alleviating mental pressures that our teachers are suffering because of administration work,” explained Maluleke.
SADTU said that it is inundated with reports of mental health, stress, depression and many other challenges that the teachers are encountering which also impact the learners.
He also scolded the Higher Education and Training department for an attempt to block SADTU from registering new members.
“The Department of Higher Education has for 15 years been side-lining our organisation because when members fill the forms and submit them to their colleges, the administration of the colleges working with the department have been blocking these members.
This is against the law because workers have a right of freedom of association and therefore organisational rights must be respected,” stressed Maluleke
In addition to opposing austerity, SADTU is also calling on the government to take decisive action against corruption, curb illicit financial flows and hold multi-national corporations accountable for tax evasion.
The union maintains that tackling corruption will help free up much-needed resources for public education.
