Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
The DA notes with concern the disruption of both days of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Legislature School Functionality oversight programme, by picketing members of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU).
The inspections, attended by Members from all political parties represented in the Legislature (view here), saw SADTU supporters surround vehicles at Dabeka Secondary School in Inanda yesterday – forcing them to come to a stop. The unpleasant experience led to the entire day’s oversight programme being delayed.
Meanwhile, yesterday on arrival at Umlazi Comprehensive Tech, the DA observed approximately 100 SADTU members gathered on the school premises. While picketing is legal, the Gatherings Act does not allow more than 15 people to assemble. This, unless they have followed due process to secure all permissions to be able to picket if there are more people.
The DA has since established via the DoE District Commander that there was no request from SADTU for yesterday’s picket in Umlazi.
The pickets are the result of SADTU’s claims that its members have not received a 1.5% pay progression and issues around the non-payment of schools’ norms and standards funding. Further complaints include school infrastructure issues and depleted staff capacity.
While the DA acknowledges SADTU’s concerns regarding the payment of Norms and Standards funding, it is important to highlight that we are partly in this dire financial position due to unfunded salary increases negotiated with national government. These wage agreements have had to entirely be funded by provincial departments, costing billions of Rands that were unplanned.
These agreements have strained provincial budgets and directly impacted critical allocations such as Norms and Standards and the Learner and Teacher Support Materials (LTSM) budgets.
The DA has been in contact with KZN’s Department of Education (DoE), which has confirmed that payment of Norms and Standards funding is underway and is scheduled for completion by May, as planned. This timeline, while imperfect, reflects the current financial constraints under which the department is operating.
While SADTU’s concerns may be valid, the fact is that Legislature Members – and teachers and learners – cannot be held to ransom over their demands. Legislature Members have an oversight duty to perform while teachers are at school to teach and learners to learn.
The DA will continue to engage with KZN’s DoE to ensure that schools receive their rightful funding and that learners are given every opportunity to succeed. Education must remain a top priority, and we urge all stakeholders to work towards solutions that put the interests of our children first.