Note to Editors: Please note Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
The DA in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) strongly condemns the ongoing and unlawful occupation of the Department of Education’s (DoE) provincial headquarters at Truro House, by members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU).
For days, SADTU members have effectively invaded Truro House, intimidating officials, chasing staff from their workstations and rendering the department dysfunctional. This is nothing short of thuggery.
At a time when our education system requires stability, accountability, and urgent intervention, the DoE has instead been captured and paralysed.
This conduct directly undermines the constitutional right of learners to basic education and disrupts critical administrative functions, including school support, procurement and educator management across our province.
The DA calls on KZN Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka and his HoD, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, to act decisively and without delay. Their continued silence and inaction in the face of such blatant intimidation is unacceptable.
Urgent steps must be taken to:
• Restore order at Truro House and ensure the safety of all departmental staff;
• Open criminal cases against those responsible for intimidation and unlawful disruption;
• Safeguard the functionality of the department so that service delivery to schools is not further compromised.
Equally, SADTU’s national and provincial leadership must be held accountable. The union cannot claim to represent educators while allowing its members to collapse the very system they operate within. The DA further calls on SADTU to immediately rein in its members and institute internal disciplinary processes against those involved in this misconduct.
KZN’s learners cannot be sacrificed at the altar of political power struggles and union militancy. The DoE must be reclaimed and restored to serve its primary purpose – delivering quality education to every learner in our province.
The DA, as a responsible partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), will continue to monitor this situation closely and will not hesitate to escalate this matter to ensure accountability and the protection of our education system.