AN UNPROTECTED mass protest by teachers across the country had little impact on schooling in the Eastern Cape yesterday.
Teaching appeared to have continued undisrupted across the province.
South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) members marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria and Parliament in Cape Town in a bid to force President Jacob Zuma to recall Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her director-general, Bobby Soobrayan, over the salaries of exam markers, which is a matter before court.
About 2000 turned up for the Cape Town march and 3000 in Pretoria , bused in from various areas by Sadtu, which said on Tuesday it expected to mobilise about 25000.
Escorted by police, Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini led the march in Pretoria, stopping briefly at the Basic Education Department offices before proceeding to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum to state officials.
His second deputy, Zingiswa Losi, led the Cape Town march.
Sadtu provincial secretary Mncekeleli Ndongeni confirmed on Tuesday that there were plans to bus marchers from the Eastern Cape, but yesterday refused to give details of how many teachers took part.
But he was adamant that the Eastern Cape supported their national counterparts, saying teachers were embarking on pickets across the province.
Basic Education spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said early reports indicated that the North West province was the most affected, with 224 teachers reported absent.
The gates at seven schools were locked and no schooling was taking place there, he added.
“In Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape no disruptions were reported ,” said Lesufi.
He said the department had set up teams across provinces to monitor the impact on schools.
Teachers were also instructed to be in class.
The department warned :
l A “no work, no pay” rule would apply for teachers involved in the protest;
l Principals who failed to monitor and register teachers’ attendance would be subjected to disciplinary procedures; and
l Teachers who signed the register as being present but later joined the protest would also face disciplinary measures .
Provincial spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department had set up systems to monitor developments at schools.
Operations at the department were not affected by the protest, he added.
In East London, Wongalethu High School principal Mbulelo Dinwa said all teachers were in class.
“Everything went smoothly. Pupils were in class and teachers are doing their job. We were not affected at all.”
Principal of Schornville Primary School in King William’s Town , Tonica Dlabati, said the same.
“All our staff were in the classrooms teaching. Everything ran normally .”
Federation of Governing Bodies of Schools deputy CEO Dr Jaco Deacon said more than 200 Eastern Cape schools affiliated to the organisation were not affected. — /
EC unruffled by Sadtu protest
Teaching appeared to have continued undisrupted across the province.
South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) members marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria and Parliament in Cape Town in a bid to force President Jacob Zuma to recall Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and her director-general, Bobby Soobrayan, over the salaries of exam markers, which is a matter before court.
About 2000 turned up for the Cape Town march and 3000 in Pretoria , bused in from various areas by Sadtu, which said on Tuesday it expected to mobilise about 25000.
Escorted by police, Cosatu president S’dumo Dlamini led the march in Pretoria, stopping briefly at the Basic Education Department offices before proceeding to the Union Buildings to hand over a memorandum to state officials.
His second deputy, Zingiswa Losi, led the Cape Town march.
Sadtu provincial secretary Mncekeleli Ndongeni confirmed on Tuesday that there were plans to bus marchers from the Eastern Cape, but yesterday refused to give details of how many teachers took part.
But he was adamant that the Eastern Cape supported their national counterparts, saying teachers were embarking on pickets across the province.
Basic Education spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said early reports indicated that the North West province was the most affected, with 224 teachers reported absent.
The gates at seven schools were locked and no schooling was taking place there, he added.
“In Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape no disruptions were reported ,” said Lesufi.
He said the department had set up teams across provinces to monitor the impact on schools.
Teachers were also instructed to be in class.
The department warned :
l A “no work, no pay” rule would apply for teachers involved in the protest;
l Principals who failed to monitor and register teachers’ attendance would be subjected to disciplinary procedures; and
l Teachers who signed the register as being present but later joined the protest would also face disciplinary measures .
Provincial spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department had set up systems to monitor developments at schools.
Operations at the department were not affected by the protest, he added.
In East London, Wongalethu High School principal Mbulelo Dinwa said all teachers were in class.
“Everything went smoothly. Pupils were in class and teachers are doing their job. We were not affected at all.”
Principal of Schornville Primary School in King William’s Town , Tonica Dlabati, said the same.
“All our staff were in the classrooms teaching. Everything ran normally .”
Federation of Governing Bodies of Schools deputy CEO Dr Jaco Deacon said more than 200 Eastern Cape schools affiliated to the organisation were not affected. — /
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