SADTU is perpetuating legacy of Apartheid

The DA is disgusted and angered by SADTU's blatant abuse of our children's rights for political point scoring. 

Today SADTU has demonstrated more clearly than ever before that they are an organisation more concerned with tri-partite alliance politics, than ensuring that our children receive the opportunities that they need to lift themselves out of poverty and address the wrongs of the past.

We share the anger that both parents and children must feel at the loss of such crucial teaching time. 

According to preliminary reports, schools most affected of SADTU's march today are those in townships across the country. We have received confirmation of serious disruptions at secondary schools in the North West province and Gauteng area including Diepkloof, Meadowlands, Orlando, Pimville and Cosmo City.

SADTU is perpetuating the legacy of Bantu education that continues hinder the access to opportunities for young people. We cannot hope to redress the injustices of Apartheid if our learners are not receiving the teaching time they need to succeed at school.

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga has continued to allow herself to be bullied by SADTU at the expense of our children's constitutional right to education. She must grow a backbone and protect our children's right to an education. 

I have repeatedly called Minister Motshekga to apply for an urgent court interdict and stop SADTU's illegal ‘work to rule' campaign and disruptive picketing. She has continued to dawdle.

I have written to the Human Rights Commission and requested that they investigate both SADTU and COSATU. I have also tabled a motion that Parliament debate appropriate measures to prevent union activity from interfering with our children's Constitutional right to receive basic education. 

The DA will do everything in its power to ensure that the Department adheres to its promise to identify and discipline anyone who participates in planned marches. 

Education, and the need to undo the detriment that Apartheid caused in South Africa must be given the priority it deserves. SADTU cares more about itself than it does about our children's right to receive a decent education. It is time for us all to come together and say to SADTU: enough is enough.

Statement issued by Annette Lovemore MP, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, April 24 2013

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