SADTU North-West to march against corruption and poor implementation
16 September 2009
The South African Democratic Teachers Union in the North-West has called all members and public servants to a march to take place tomorrow afternoon (17 September) to protest against corruption and the lack of transformation in the provincial Department of Education.
The march will start from the Montshioa Stadium, Mafikeng, and proceed to the North-West Legislature, where a memorandum will be presented to the Premier at approximately 15h00.
The memorandum will address the following:
- The failure of the Department of Education to act against senior officials implicated inn corrupt practices and irregular tendering
- The demand for the absorption of temporary teachers with more than twelve months service into the permanent staff establishment
- The payment of outstanding acting allowances (for educators acting in more senior posts)
- Payment of rural allowances to all deserving educators as per the agreement in the Provincial Education Labour Relations Council
- Proper resourcing of poor schools eg with libraries, computers, laboratories
- The immediate payment of PMDS/pay progression to office-based educators
- Continued racism at some of the former model C schools
- The call for the removal of the Superintendent General and MEC for Education for their failure to comply with the Auditor Generals report and failure to address the issues raised above.
SADTU has applied to the municipality for permission to march in terms of the Gatherings Act No 205 o 1993, which permission was granted.
“In the light of this, the Union condemns the Department of Educations request to the courts for an interdict to prevent the march from taking place. We see this as an infringement of the fundamental rights of workers and citizens, and a crude attempt to muzzle criticism. No amount of threats or intimidation will stop this march. Instead any actions taken by the Department against our members will only ensure that the present protests escalate. The stance of the Department can only lead to a hardening of attitudes between the parties. The anger and frustration of members is mounting, creating a tsunami which is becoming unstoppable,” said provincial SADTU Chairperson, Mxolisi Bomvana