Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga on Wednesday urged striking teachers to respect their colleagues who chose not to get involved in the nationwide strike.
“I have been very concerned by recent reports of intimidation, damage to public property and the forceful disruption of normal schooling by striking teachers, especially in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal,” she said in a statement.
“I want to caution these members against such actions and am appealing to teacher unions to act decisively to discipline these members.”
She said the police and the government would act harshly against those found guilty of such offences.
Monitoring teams deployed
Strike monitoring teams, consisting of district and provincial officials, would operate in all districts.
“The monitoring teams will be in constant contact with the local police stations to ensure that we are able to respond speedily to any eventuality.
“We recognise the constitutional right of all workers, including teachers, to strike.
“This is a protected strike and teachers can freely choose to join the industrial action without fear of dismissal or victimisation by the state.
“However, we call on all striking teachers who will be exercising their right to strike to respect the rights of those who decide not to join the industrial action.”
Motshekga said the indefinite strike was a “major blow” to the education sector and the principle of no work, no pay would apply.
Deductions would be made at the end of the strike.
All schools would remain open, and the department had taken measures to mitigate the impact on learning and teaching.
Education authorities on Wednesday tried to minimise the effects of the strike.
Western Cape provincial education minister Donald Grant said 2,3%, or 34, of the province’s schools were closed as a result of the strike on Wednesday, with just under 14% of teachers were absent from work.
“There were 13 isolated incidents of intimidation and violence in the province, all of which were dealt with effectively by the police,” he said.
Gauteng provincial education minister Barbara Creecy urged pupils to start study groups, while the KwaZulu-Natal department of education said it was worried the strike could severely impact matric results.
‘Our members are keen to strike’
Sadtu urged striking teachers not to intimidate others, following reports of classroom disruptions in the Vaal Triangle in Gauteng earlier this week.
“Our members are keen to go on strike, they don’t need to be intimidated to go on strike,” said Sadtu spokesperson Numsa Cembi.
The National Congress of School Governing Bodies called on pupils to remain focused on their studies.
“We are worried that the strike will impact negatively as we approach the final examinations.”
The Public Servants’ Association (PSA) will join the strike on Thursday. The government has offered a 7% salary hike and a R700 housing allowance while unions demand 8,6% and R1000. — Sapa