C Dugmore on striking teachers

4 June 2007

Western Cape Education MEC Cameron Dugmore and the Head of Department Ron
Swartz today reacted with outrage and condemnation on learning that a group of
about 30 striking teachers disrupted examinations, confiscated and tore up
scripts and manhandled a female learner by grabbing her around the neck. About
30 striking teachers visited the Malibu Secondary School in Blue Downs today
Monday, 4 June 2007 and asked the principal if they could speak to members of
the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). The striking teachers are
not staff members at the school.

While waiting for the principal to arrange the meeting, members of the
visiting group entered the school hall where Grade 11 and 12 learners were
writing Geography and Maths examinations respectively. The striking teachers
then demanded examination papers and scripts and proceeded to confiscate and
tore up some of the scripts. One of the groups manhandled a female learner who
refused to hand over her script, grabbing her around the neck, according to our
report from the school. The parents of the girl have told the school that they
will lodge a formal complaint.

The school abandoned the examinations and reported the incident to the
Metropole East District office of the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
The circuit manager went to the school immediately on learning of the incident
and found the learners traumatised. The district office will send school
psychologists to the school tomorrow Tuesday, 5 June 2007, to assess the
situation and provide counselling where necessary.

The group of striking teachers moved on to Kleinvlei Secondary School in
Eerste River where the principal refused to allow them onto the school
premises.

I am absolutely appalled by this incident and am calling on the union
leadership to take strong disciplinary steps against the members involved. They
must also ensure that there is no occurrence of similar acts of intimidation
and violence against any learner or teacher. We acknowledge the right of unions
and their members to embark on industrial action which is legally protected. At
the same, teachers and learners who want to continue with learning and teaching
are also protected, said MEC Dugmore.

Mr Swartz, Head of Education said, "This kind of behaviour is totally
unacceptable. We condemn this incident in the strongest possible terms. We will
look at ways of holding the union responsible for the behaviour of its members.
We will investigate fully with a view to disciplinary action, especially the
teacher or teachers who allegedly manhandled a learner. Any form of
intimidation is unacceptable. To intimidate and assault learners is
unforgivable."

For enquiries, contact:
Gert Witbooi
Cell: 082 550 3938
Paddy Attwell
Cell: 083 261 7699

Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
4 June 2007