SADTU prevents education portfolio committee from doing school visits

Dear MyPE

This past Tuesday members of the legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education were again prevented from doing site visits at schools in the Sterkspruit education district by members of the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu).

Anarchy is prevalent in this district and learners are being used as canon-fodder by union members to fight their battle with the Eastern Cape Department of Education. Principals and staff at schools were intimidated and threatened to the extent that they were too scared to unlock gates or to come out of their offices to meet with portfolio committee members.

On Tuesday we experienced similar problems at Sterkspruit Secondary School. Yesterday we were prevented to have meetings at Kayamnadi School in Venterstad and at Ethembeni Secondary School in Burgersdorp. Today we were chased away from Untlakhlaza Farm School in the Lady Grey area and at Valikhanye Secondary School in Barkly East the gates remained locked.

The union has shown its lack of respect for the rule of law. Union members clearly do not have any desire to put the education of our children first by finding solutions to the plethora of problems at our schools.

If the union has issues with the MEC, take it up with the MEC in a manner that does not include the disruption of schools or the work of the portfolio committee.

Members of the legislature have a mandate to go out and do site visits to listen and learn first-hand of the issues that affect the electorate. Sadtu’s actions this week robbed principals, educators and learners in the Sterkspruit district of the opportunity to highlight their specific needs to a legislature forum that can engage directly with the Department of Education.

Efforts to put stop the further deterioration of the administration of the department should be foremost on the minds of those who have the God-given opportunity to be a part of shaping the futures of our children. Shame on you Sadtu. Shame on you.

Regards

Edmund van Vuuren, MPL