Traffic flow along Panorama Drive in Lennoxton encountered serious disruptions as members of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) launching a picket outside the Newcastle offices of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education on Wednesday, 6 November 2024.
Protesters filled the street with singing as they demanded action on a range of pressing issues, while community members voiced their concerns to law enforcement, citing reports of picketers blocking motorists from using the popular road.
Police and traffic officials responded promptly to clear the road; however, SADTU’s picket action showed no signs of winding down.
The picketing campaign commenced across KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, 1 November 2024. The grievances at the core of these demonstrations include the need for overdue pay progression, fair remuneration for Grade R practitioners, and the delayed release of norms and standards funds. These issues, compounded by recent budget cuts, have intensified frustrations within the education sector.
Speaking to Newcastillian News, SADTU’s Bayavuya Sokheda shared that the decision to picket was made reluctantly, as the Department of Education had not taken adequate measures to ensure schools receive the necessary funding.
“Most schools across KZN are not receiving the required funding, seeing school principals having to fork out monies from their own pockets to make ends meet. Also, the Department needs to address pay progression increases. The increase is 1.5%, which was meant to be paid as of 1 July 2024, and this has still not been paid as of yet,” Sokheda expressed.
He further noted that Grade R educators, who play an essential role in early childhood development, have not yet received their salary increment, which was issued to other educators in April 2024. This delay has affected their ability to support the children they teach effectively.
Furthermore, Sokheda stressed that if the Department of Education did not address SADTU’s concerns, picketing would escalate on Thursday, 7 November 2024. “All teachers will come and picket tomorrow (Thursday), if the department does not meet our demands, which I doubt they will do,” he emphasised.
The Department of Education is reportedly aware of these struggles and has approached the National Treasury to seek solutions, as government-wide budget cuts are impacting numerous departments. In Newcastle, the picket action is being closely monitored by law enforcement to ensure public safety as SADTU continues its efforts across KwaZulu-Natal until these matters are resolved.
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What are your thoughts on the ongoing SADTU protests? Share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 1
The situation in schools is exceedingly bad .Photocopying litany of papers has brought machines breakdown. We cancelled contracts with Photocopying companies due to budget cut struggles and we are left in a lurch. We barely can’t afford on our own to service these machines with new parts . The KZNDoE is expecting standardized quality assessments through their distribution of only one common paper which is in large volumes and expected to be generated for a quite big number of learners and the question is how possible is that?.We are frustrated and emotionally drained as principals.