The Gauteng Department of Education was this evening granted an urgent interdict by the Johannesburg Labour Court preventing the East Rand Region of teachers’ union SADTU from disrupting schooling in Ekurhuleni on Wednesday.
The interdict prevents the union’s East Rand region from calling on or instigating its members to:
- disrupt learning in any way
- suspend teaching or any of their other duties during learning hours
- engage in any union activities during learning hours without the Department’s authorisation
- releasing learners from school before the end of the school day without the Department’s authorisation
The court requires SADTU to issue a public statement calling on its members in the East Rand region not to participate in the unauthorised march planned for Wednesday, August 15th during teaching hours.
The interdict effectively prevents the regional structure of the union from
- holding site meetings during teaching hours which would disrupt classes
- leaving school early
- marching to and disrupting work at the Department’s district offices
The Department took SADTU to court in order to ensure that learners in Ekurhuleni would not be negatively affected by attempts by SADTU’s East Rand region to mobilise support for its secretary.
He is facing dismissal following his conviction in a disciplinary hearing on charges of mismanagement and misappropriation of school funds at Kuzimisela Primary School in Daveyton. The matter is currently before the Gauteng MEC for Education on appeal.
Education MEC Barbara Creecy appealed to all parents, school governors, principals and educators in Ekurhuleni to stand together in protecting the right of Ekurhuleni’s children to ongoing teaching and learning. “With less than 20 school days before the Matric Prelim Exams, and less than 30 days before the Annual National Assessment tests, it is vital that all of us who value our children’s education and want to build our country’s future should stand up and protect the culture of learning and teaching,” said MEC Creecy.
Creecy also called on teachers in Ekurhuleni to make the Presidential non-negotiables on learning and teaching their own, including being in class on time and ensuring that teaching and learning take place for seven hours every day.
Enquiries:
Charles Phahlane
Tel: 011 355 1530
Cell: 071860 4496
