The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union in KwaZulu Natal convenes this public briefing to give an update on issues that adversely affect schools and delivery of quality public education. This briefing follows eight days of engagements with the department of education in the province. 

Whilst these engagements were happening some members had lunch hour pickets in district offices. Also, this briefing is aimed at giving feedback to members and general public especially those who understand the importance of education and the need for government to support schools as obligated by the Constitution of the country which declares education as a basic human right.

It is a known fact that the majority of schools in KZN are no-fee paying schools hence their reliance on the department for their functioning. These are mainly the quintile 1-3 schools. Firstly, the KZN Department of education failed to pay financial allocations to these needy schools. Schools have been struggling with school principals having to use their own monies to run schools, which is unsustainable. Schools need these monies to buy textbooks and stationery, they need to honour municipal bills and other resources and services which they need to meet the expectations of the same department and public to improve learning outcomes. Failure of the department to give this money to schools automatically translates to dysfunctionality.

In essence, the department of education in the province is failing to deliver on its core mandate. The department does not learn from its past experiences. In 2023 SADTU had a march on the 13 October and the same issues the union is raising now are the issues in the memorandum of demands from that march. In fact, the department is worse off now. For example, instead of paying allocation twice, they decided to pay it in eight instalments. Let alone that this province is underpaying schools but is failing even to honour those instalments. For example, KZN Department is funding schools far below the national norm:
•The learners in no fee schools, quintile 1-3, at R955 per learner when the national norm is R1602 which means each learner is underfunded with R647

•Quintile 4 learners are funded at R522 when the national norm is R803 per learner, underfunded with R281

•Quintile 5 learners are funded at R179 when the national norm is R277, an underfunding of R98

Whilst it is acknowledged that all schools and learners are shortchanged but quintile 1-3 are the most affected. There are 4819 schools that fall in this category. Which learners are in these quintiles 1-3? We can tell you these are learners that come from the most rural areas of this province with Zululand 685 uMzinyathi with 452 etc. With the high level of unemployment, there is no doubt that parents in these schools are not able to make any contributions unlike these other schools which have reserves.

In 2021, 2022 and 2023 SADTU had to engage in pickets for the department to honour the Collective Agreement on payment of pay progression, EPMDS and PMDS to all qualifying teachers and education workers. This is an annual payment which must be done every July but in all these years our employer must be reminded through pickets that they must pay.

As the challenges of the employer are so many, they also failed to pay Grade R basic allocation since January. If this is the case, then we must forget about the commitment to invest in early childhood development which is believed to have long lasting effects on the learning of our kids. The department has repeatedly emphasised its commitment to ECD and Grade R. As if this is not enough, the Department failed to adjust the stipends of Grade R practitioners when all other workers got theirs. These are the workers that are right at the root of the education journey and have the responsibility to ensure that they build a strong foundation for all other teachers to move from where they left.

Unfortunately, their importance in this department is not recognised, this is why they are not paid according to the qualifications they have. Some are nearing retirement, they will retire without any pension, they do not have any benefits, no medical aid, no housing allowance, nothing. It is also worth mentioning that 98.36% Grade R practitioners are women with a total of 5229 out of 5316. Only 87 are men. Are we not experiencing that which was a defining factor before 1994, women isolated in cheap labour when they carry more family responsibilities?

Respect for exiting laws and policies is a challenge in this department. The Labour Relations Act provides for the conversion into permanency of employees who have worked for three consecutive months if the post is substantively vacant. ELRC Collective agreement prescribes how this process must unfold in the department of education. KZN has about 548 temporary educators who qualify for conversion but the department was just ignoring these policies until SADTU raised the issue.

All these issues are the reason for SADTU in KZN to be engaged in pickets. Pickets came in after numerous bilateral meetings with the department raising these issues. In fact, even in January this year SADTU had to engage the Department of Finance to intervene after realising that the Department of Education had nothing to give to schools to prepare for reopening. It is through that SADTU intervention that schools received some money in January 2024.

As we started meeting the department on Monday the 4th of November, we appreciate that they acknowledged the challenges facing schools. At some point the Union wrote to the Director General, Mr Mweli seeking for his intervention. We applaud the DG for his prompt response together with the Provincial DG Dr Mkhize who availed themselves for the Saturday meeting at Coastlands Hotel- Musgrave. This meeting followed the participation of SADTU in the Presidential Imbizo wherein the Union was able to raise this problem with the President. We also find comfort in knowing now that the challenges facing KZN Department of education were presented in the Cabinet meeting which sat during the week last week. This is as per the response of the President to SADTU’ s input during his Imbizo. The meeting with the DGs resolved to establish a task team which will be composed of national and provincial department of education and finance and SADTU so that permanent solutions can be secured to save the department which is collapsing if it has not collapsed. 

Whilst appreciating all this, the Union is adamant that every cent that is owed to schools must be paid to ensure that no school is owed by the time schools close. This means that the work of the task team will have immediate, short term, medium and long term solutions.

The meeting with the DGs also afforded SADTU an opportunity to present its views on the state of finances of this department. SADTU believes that the main challenge the department has is failure to prioritise. Their spending does not show that they are financially challenged. Why would they create new problems – like buying new schools when they can’t support the existing ones? Why would they engage in online registration or application that costs them R7.9 million a month for the three pilot district? Why would they pay for security, gardening and cleaning services for a school, that is unlikely to open next year?

The high level of vacancies in offices of the department is also a cause for some of the administrative challenges which include failure to appoint and pay on time. As if this is not enough a number of employees/officials are appointed to act but they are not paid their acting allowance. Favouritism is the order of the day in this department as some officials are gifted with about 6 notches when they are promoted while others are left out and get disadvantaged in the process. This is a report that shows that we have a department of aggrieved and demoralised officials some are high ranking like chief directors and directors who feel isolated and discriminated against. 

We have asked the department to give us a report of how they have been awarding free notches and paying acting allowance for the past five years. This is a matter that we are prepared to take to court if the department does not come to its senses. A meeting is scheduled for the 13th of November, tomorrow to discuss these issues.
The progress made as a result of the SADTU picket is as follows:
• Since Monday last week an amount of R107 million has been paid to schools as per the call by SADTU. Principals of schools have been sending messages confirming that they received, even yesterday there are schools that have been paid.

• The basic allocation, the ECD/ Grade R grant was paid to primary schools last week. There is evidence of that. In fact, even last year these schools never received this grant.

•The department committed to continue converting qualifying educators. Out of 548 temporary educators, only 67 are remaining. A full report with names of converted educators will be presented in the meeting on the 13th of November 2024.

*The employer committed to the stipend increase for Grade R practitioners by the 28th of November. Already HR employees are busy with manual capturing which is expected to be concluded at least by early next week. Payment will be centralised.

•On pay progression – the department has presented their plan that the process of paying pay progression means that they must request National Treasury to assist them with a run. The employer then promised to work hard to ensure that at least by the end of December all employees receive their pay progression. (QMS, PMDS, EPDMS).
Whilst this progress is appreciated, the demand to have schools getting all their monies before the end of the school year remains. Therefore, union leadership will continue to monitor that the department lives by its commitments.

As we conclude, it will be better for members of public including political parties to first understand the reasons behind protest actions by workers before making silly statements and utterances that seek to ridicule unions and their leaders for standing for justice.

Fortunately, SADTU is not worried nor shaken by any noise that seeks to isolate and ridicule her for standing for truth and justice whether this is done by individual leaders or political parties for we are comforted by the reality that SADTU is a union of her members, managed by her members and speaks on the mandate from members.
We draw our strength from the understanding that SADTU is not a labour desk of any political party and will not seek permission from anyone to raise issues. 

Those who bark on SADTU when critical issues are raised but are silent when the department or government is eroding the gains of democracy like ensuring that everyone has access to quality education regardless of their socio-economic status must accept this reality. In fact, people who think that SADTU will smile and dance when government implements austerity measures in education must just forget. Anyone who believes that any progress can be achieved with austerity measures manifesting themselves as budget cuts is dreaming. 

As workers we are ready to stand and fight this monster and those who attack workers for their views on austerity measures must just get ready for a fight that will not end now. We are more than ready – bring it on.

Lastly, we take this opportunity to thank members of SADTU for their commitment to the struggle for quality public education. The progress we are reporting today is as a result of their collective effort walking on two legs. Ensuring that they fight through pickets while ensuring the smooth administration and invigilation of National Senior Certificate examinations.

Go Public- Fund Education, Down with austerity measures, Away with budget cuts.

The struggle continues
END
ISSUED BY: KZN SADTU Secretariat
Nomarashiya Caluza, Provincial Secretary: 0826117027
Jabulani Nxumalo, Deputy Provincial Secretary: 0826117028