Disruptions at Soweto schools ended on Wednesday after a pact was reached between provincial education minister Barbara Creecy and the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu).
”We have reached an agreement with Sadtu and schools should resume as from [Thursday],” Creecy said in Johannesburg.
The minister also announced that she would withdraw the district director ”with immediate effect”.
Sadtu regional members disrupted classes in Soweto and Florida on Monday in a bid to have their preferred school principals appointed.
They also disputed the appointment of the unidentified director.
Sadtu regional spokesperson Ronald Nyathi pointed out that not all issues had been resolved.
”The [provincial minister] has committed to work towards resolving some of the matters that are still disputed,” he said.
Sadtu members were expected to attend a debriefing session on Thursday at the Soweto Teachers’ College in Pimville.
The National Association of Parents in School Governance (NAPSG) had asked parents or guardians to accompany their children to school on Thursday to try to prevent class disruptions by Sadtu members.
Chairperson Mahlomola Kekana said the union should respect the process governing the appointment of educators, head of departments, deputy and school principals.
”This issue belongs to school governing bodies not members of Sadtu, people who constitute interview panels are parents who are in the SGB [school governing body],” he said.
Kekana said: ”For a long time members of Sadtu have compromised our children in schools with disregard to their rights and safety. This behaviour must be condemned …”
He claimed that the children of the teachers involved in the disruptions went to schools in suburban areas and were not affected by the action.
On Tuesday the education department obtained a court order prohibiting disruptions by teachers, but they ignored the interdict. — Sapa