Motorists are advised to avoid the Johannesburg city centre on Thursday due to a march by an expected 20 000 South African Democratic Teacher’s Union members, metro police said.
Metro police spokesperson Superintendent Edna Mamonyane said the marchers will make their way from Braamfontein’s Civic Centre, along De Korte, Harrison and Eloff streets to 111 Commissioner street. Here they will hand a memorandum to the MEC for education, Angie Motshekga.
Sections of Commissioner, Simmonds and Market streets have been closed to traffic.
The march was expected to begin at around 9am and go on well into the afternoon.
In the memorandum, Sadtu said its members are ”frustrated by the deliberate attempts of the employer to undermine negotiations” over teachers’ salaries and related matters.
”Teachers are workers, and workers around the world are being threatened by employers in grossly violating their conditions of service,” Sadtu said.
The union’s demands include a 7% across-the-board salary increase for 2004 as well as universal housing and medical-aid allowances.
Sadtu added: ”It is clear that despite all efforts from the side of labour to find common ground, negotiations have reached a dead end. Unless the employer indicates a willingness to negotiate in good faith, the public service is heading for a crisis.” – Sapa