South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (Sadtu) members turned out in full force around the country to demonstrate their frustration with the government’s offer of a 5,5% salary increase.
Sadtu spokesperson Jon Lewis said an estimated 30 000 people marched through the streets of Johannesburg.
”That was the biggest turnout we had. Partly because we were joined by the nurses from Denosa [Democratic Nurses’ Organisation of South Africa], the police from Popcru [Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union] and Nehawu [National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union],” Lewis said.
Members of Denosa, Popcru and Nehawu have pledged their support to Sadtu.
He said about 20 000 members marched to the premier’s office in Polokwane in Limpopo. In the North West 18 000 teachers attended a march in Mafikeng.
The smallest turnout was in the Northern Cape.
”As the smallest province [in terms of members] the Northern Cape exceeded all expectations. Six thousand people marched.”
Non-Sadtu teachers and final-year education students from Fort Hare University joined the march.
Lewis said all those marches were concluded peacefully and without incident.
The march in Bisho the Eastern Cape only got under way by 2pm.
Lewis was awaiting information on the marches in Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Pietermaritzburg.
No marches were held in Mpumalanga as the Sadtu branch there could not get permission in time. Lewis said Sadtu members in Mpumalanga held pickets outside various education department buildings.
He said the results from the ballots on whether teachers would embark on a full-blown strike were expected to be available by Thursday evening.
Sadtu will meet the Department of Education on Friday in an attempt to break the deadlock over wage increases.
The union is demanding 7%. If no agreement is reached on Friday, Sadtu’s national executive council will meet to discuss strike action. — Sapa
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