The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) joins the world in celebrating World Teachers' Day, 05 October under the 2020 theme: "Teachers leading in crisis; reimagining the future".

The Government should not be permitted to take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic in an opportunistic manner to avoid its legal obligations of honouring public-service wage increases it had freely and deliberately undertaken to respect.

The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) expresses its sincerest condolences to the family of Cde Nyameka Goniwe, the wife of late political activist and teacher Matthew Goniwe - one of the "Cradock Four" who were brutally murdered by apartheid security forces in 1985.

We are shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of our MEC for Education in the Northern Cape, Mac Collen Jack. MEC Mac Jack served as the MEC for Education since May 2019 until he met his death on the 13 August 2020. In the short space of time that he has served the Education Department in the Province, Mac Jack has shown qualitative leadership. He was very passionate and focussed in improving the education system.

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union cautiously welcomes the announcement by the President of a four week non-physical contact break in order to save lives during this winter period. This announcement comes after the persistent call made by the recognised teacher unions, learner organisations and some school governing bodies and some sectors of society for schools to be closed immediately until we have gone past the COVID pandemic peak.

As the largest union in the public service sector, we were expecting the Minister to announce the amount that has been budgeted to meet the salary increases for the sector which are long overdue as they were supposed to have been paid in April. Instead of announcing the figure, he referred to the negotiations with labour that are being led by the Minister of Public Services. These negotiations are long overdue because an agreement for salary increases was signed way back in 2018. Clearly, no money has been set aside for the 2020-21 salary increases. Instead, the budget will be cut by R160 billion. Moving forward, this budget has sent a clear message that there will be no wage negotiations in 2021-2022. Instead, public service will bear the brunt for the preceding R230 billion budget cut. The supplementary budget has sent a clear message that there is going to be salary cuts and thousands of job losses in the public service.

SADTU in the Western Cape is saddened by, and condemns the alleged rape and brutal killing of 17-year old Amahle Quko, a Grade 11 learner at Sinethemba High School in Phillipi. The Union further condemns the murder of the 7-year-old Raynecia Kotjie of Belhar. She was a Grade 1 learner at Belhar Primary School. The attacks on our female learners cannot be tolerated.

SADTU, together with COSATU public service unions POPCRU, DENOSA PAWUSA, SAEPU and SAMA are taking the fight for salary increases of public servants to the next level. The dispute on the non-implementation of PSCBC Resolution 1 of 2018 - Agreement on the Salary Adjustment and Improvements of Conditions of Service for the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 is proceeding to arbitration. The arbitration is set down for 22 June 2020.

The five Teacher Unions (SADTU, NAPTOSA, SAOU, NATU, PEU) together with the School Governing Body Associations (FEDSAS, NASGB, GBF, SANASE) met with Minister Motshekga, the Deputy Minister, MECs of Provinces, the Director General in the Department of Basic Education, the Provincial HODs and various other officials, to receive reports from the Ministry about the COVID-19 Compliance of schools and readiness to re-open schools. We wish to emphasize that the meeting was open, frank and in a positive collaborative spirit that sought to join forces in combating a threat that affects not only everyone involved in education but also the future development of our country as a whole.