HRC must investigate SADTU's intimidation of our children
SADTU and COSATU's calls for Grade 10 to 12 learners and teachers to stay away from schools tomorrow and join them in their planned illegal march to Parliament and other locations across the country is a flagrant attack on the constitutional rights of our learners (see here).
I will be writing to the Human Rights Commission requesting that they investigate both SADTU and COSATU. I will also ask the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Hope Malgas, to summon both organisations to Parliament. Parliament must do everything possible to protect the rights of our children. I have tabled a motion that Parliament debate appropriate measures to prevent union activity from interfering with the constitutional right of our children to receive basic education. There has not been a Parliamentary debate about education since 2009 despite its status as an apex priority.
At a Media Briefing in Cape Town yesterday, COSATU and SADTU indicated that they had asked pupils in grades 10-12 and teachers to take a day off on Wednesday. COSATU-Western Cape Provincial Secretary, Tony Ehrenreich, said: "We feel everyone must make a sacrifice of one day to highlight the inadequacy of their schools."
SADTU is out of control. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga must stop dragging her feet and apply for an urgent court interdict to prevent SADTU from engaging in this illegal protest.
Over the past few weeks I have repeatedly called for Minister Motshekga to take decisive action and deal with SADTU's illegal ‘work to rule' campaign and disruptive picketing. However, the Minister has continued to dither.
With crucial mid-year exams, especially for Grade 10 to 12 learners, just weeks away, SADTU and COSATU suggesting that anyone take time off to participate in what is essentially illegal strike action is entirely unacceptable and will have a detrimental effect on our learners' performance.
Once again, SADTU is placing its own interests ahead of our learners and leveraging every possible opportunity for political gain.
Calls such as this by SADTU serve to perpetuate the legacy of Bantu education that continues to curtail 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.
The DA will do everything in its power to ensure that the Department adhere to its promise to identify and discipline anyone who participates in planned marches. Education, and the need undo the detriment that Apartheid caused in South Africa must be given the priority it deserves.
Statement issued by Annette Lovemore MP, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, April 23 2013
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