The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) was disturbed to learn yesterday that the Johannesburg Region of South African Democratic Teacher's Union (SADTU) has called a meeting at 12h00 today in Soweto during school hours.
The meeting is scheduled to take place during contact time when Grade 12 learners are preparing for the most important examinations of their young lives which begin for the majority of Gauteng matric candidates in a week's time.
"For the past twelve years these learners have prepared for this most important moment of their lives," said MEC Barbara Creecy. "We therefore believe it is most inappropriate for teachers to be deserting their posts at this crucial time" said the MEC.
Following the unprotected labour action by SADTU Johannesburg in June this year, the department has a standing interdict which prevents SADTU from disrupting classes during school hours. The meeting in question has not been convened with the permission of the department and is therefore in breach of the interdict.
The department has requested the support of the Department of Community Safety and the City of Johannesburg to ensure that the interdict is enforced and the meeting does not take place during school hours.
"We believe it is in the best interests of learners and their educational need to enforce the interdict at this point in time," said the MEC
"In June this year parents and school governing body associations condemned the unprotected labour strike actions of the SADTU Johannesburg Region and asked the Premier and myself to ensure that the constitutional right of their children to education was protected by the Gauteng Provincial Government. This is what we are going to do today."
Following an agreement with the provincial secretary Tseliso Ledimo of SADTU yesterday, the GDE has committed to extending the due date for appeals in relation to employees whose salaries were deducted despite being at work during the 2007 strike and those who want to make a representation for their leave deductions to be done over more that six months, to the end of November 2009.
The department is therefore calling on all its affected employees to use this opportunity to come forward and use the appeal process and the provision on special circumstances on or before 30 November 2009, as there will be no further extensions.
Once again the Gauteng Department of Education wishes to reiterate that we respect the Labour Laws of this country and the rights of educators. Equally we believe it is important to protect the rights of learners to use the weapon of education to break the cycle of poverty. We call on parents, learners and school governing body (SGB) associations to continue to support us in this important quest.
For more information contact:
Nanagolo Leopeng
Tel: 011 355 0414
Cell: 083 450 2872
Issued by: Department of Education, Gauteng Provincial Government
22 October 2009
