Tuesday morning saw a mixed bag of attendance in Makana’s government schools, with the strike being a greater deterrent to the learners than the teachers.
Tuesday morning saw a mixed bag of attendance in Makana’s government schools, with the strike being a greater deterrent to the learners than the teachers.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) called for a partial strike in order to provide some tuition for learners, with teachers allowed to attend school until 10am.
The principal of Victoria Girls’ High School, Madeleine Schoeman said both state paid and governing body teachers were in attendance at the school. However, only a quarter of learners came to classes.
“Parents get worried about intimidation,” she said, saying this was unacceptable. This was in reference to the public statement made at a national level of possible union retaliation against non-striking teachers.
Although one head teacher, who wished to remain anonymous because of this intimidation, said that there had been no direct threats reported in the Eastern Cape.
With teachers calling for an 8.6% increase in salaries plus a R1 000 housing allowance, the government’s highest offer has been 7% with a housing allowance of R630.
At Nombulelo Secondary School, 700 of their 1 000 learners arrived at the beginning of the day. Most teachers were present with the exception of a few who participated in the SADTU march in Port Elizabeth.
“Bad” and “worried” was how Nombulelo Grade 10 learners Masixole Langweni and Vuyokazi Noqayi described their feelings towards the strike.
“Education is important, more than a strike,” added fellow Grade 10 learner Nosipho Jamela. TEM Mrwetyana secondary school headmaster Stanley Bruce Le Roux said that, despite being union members, the majority of teachers were at school.
“The whole idea is to avert the strike, we are waiting on the final report [from the union’s site steward],” he said.
Le Roux blamed the media for poor learner attendance, saying that they blew the strike out of proportion. Reporting a similar situation, Ntaba Maria School said that only three of their 13 state paid teachers did not arrive for work.
There was however a low attendance from the learners’s side. “All the teachers are here,” said Edith Balfour, the deputy principal of Samuel Ntsiko Primary School.
“Our main problem in the school is water, not the strike,” added Balfour. No water meant that children were released at 10.30am both last week Friday and on Tuesday, as the learners’ meals could not be prepared, nor could they use the toilets.
Nomusa Cembi, SADTU national media officer, said that the strike action went very well and was happy with the turn out.
However there was a scheduled meeting with the minister that was cancelled at the last minute. The union, along with the other Cosatu aligned bodies, have gave the government until 12 August to respond to their demands.
“The unions will embark on a prolonged strike if the government does not come to the table with a better offer,” said Cembi.
Piet van Aardt of the Public Servants’ Association (PSA), confirmed that they are also waiting for a response from government, but all strike action is on hold for now. “We had a good strike attendance,” said Van Aardt.
