The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has called off a boycott of classes in the Eastern Cape to give the Eastern Cape Department of Education a chance to deliver outstanding stationery supplies.
Mbulelo Mpupu, Sadtu’s Maluti representative, says that Sadtu is giving the department the opportunity to rectify the situation.
The Mail & Guardian reported last week that 60 000 learners boycotted classes because they were being forced to use old and torn stationery as education authorities had failed to deliver new supplies.
The report sparked action by Minister of Education Kader Asmal, who will visit Maluti on May 7 to investigate the lack of delivery of textbooks and stationery.
Sadtu confirmed that the department had started delivering stationery in semi-urban areas but will meet with school representatives on May 3 to review the situation.
The department has increased the number of bakkies to transport the stationery.
”The union’s actions were instrumental in forcing the department to act swiftly,” says Mpupu.