Two special schools in East London have been affected by National Education and Health Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) strike action.
The strike involving caregivers, kitchen and administration staff affiliated to the union.
Striking staff barricaded the entrance to the Rubusana district education office in Mdantsane since Monday, and due to the action, Vukuhambe and Parklands special schools have been left without certain staff members.
Parklands principal Eugene Marais said only pupils with private transport had been to school this week.
“The government drivers have not been fetching the learners,” he said.
Marais said 225 children make use of the bus service, with about 200 unable to make it to school this week.
Vukuhambe principal Sobantu Mankazana said the school, which offers boarding facilities, was forced to transport all pupils back home.
“We are only left with the nine matric learners.” The school has hired residents to look after the pupils in the meantime.
Nehawu provincial secretary Xolani Malamlela said the district branch had a list of grievances that needed to be addressed.
This included special school employees not being paid overtime, inconsistent salary grading and bursaries not available for staff at district level, among others.
“If there is no progress looking into the complaints, next week when we have the provincial meeting, we will make the strike a provincial strike,” Malamlela threatened.
Education spokesman Mali Mtima confirmed the strike action.
“Nehawu has been on unprotected industrial action since Monday, making the district office inaccessible to other employees and the general public,” he said.
“Currently the district office is locked in a meeting engaging with them on the issues they have raised.”
The department’s management has been forced to make use of the Stirling Education Leadership Institute all week, as union members monitored officials who entered the building.
A cook at Vukuhambe Special School, Buyiswa Mxokiso, said in her many years at school hostels, she had never been paid overtime.
“For years I have been living at schools going home every fortnight, but nobody ever wonders about my children and what I take home when I have to work around the clock for learners,” she said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
Pupils suffer as Nehawu members down tools
The strike involving caregivers, kitchen and administration staff affiliated to the union.
Striking staff barricaded the entrance to the Rubusana district education office in Mdantsane since Monday, and due to the action, Vukuhambe and Parklands special schools have been left without certain staff members.
Parklands principal Eugene Marais said only pupils with private transport had been to school this week.
“The government drivers have not been fetching the learners,” he said.
Marais said 225 children make use of the bus service, with about 200 unable to make it to school this week.
Vukuhambe principal Sobantu Mankazana said the school, which offers boarding facilities, was forced to transport all pupils back home.
“We are only left with the nine matric learners.” The school has hired residents to look after the pupils in the meantime.
Nehawu provincial secretary Xolani Malamlela said the district branch had a list of grievances that needed to be addressed.
This included special school employees not being paid overtime, inconsistent salary grading and bursaries not available for staff at district level, among others.
“If there is no progress looking into the complaints, next week when we have the provincial meeting, we will make the strike a provincial strike,” Malamlela threatened.
Education spokesman Mali Mtima confirmed the strike action.
“Nehawu has been on unprotected industrial action since Monday, making the district office inaccessible to other employees and the general public,” he said.
“Currently the district office is locked in a meeting engaging with them on the issues they have raised.”
The department’s management has been forced to make use of the Stirling Education Leadership Institute all week, as union members monitored officials who entered the building.
A cook at Vukuhambe Special School, Buyiswa Mxokiso, said in her many years at school hostels, she had never been paid overtime.
“For years I have been living at schools going home every fortnight, but nobody ever wonders about my children and what I take home when I have to work around the clock for learners,” she said. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
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