Seven day ultimatum for department to act

MBOMBELA – The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has given the provincial Department of Education a seven-day ultimatum to respond to their memorandum of grievances.

Hundreds of teachers – members of Sadtu – marched to the district offices at the former Mgwenya College of Education in KaNyamazane on Tuesday.

There they handed over their memorandum to department representatives, who acted on behalf of the MEC, Ms Reginah Mhaule.
The teachers, who came from nine branches within the Ehlanzeni district, demanded that the district director, Mr Pat Zwane, be removed as director of Ehlanzeni office by February 8. Failing to do so, they will escalate their efforts to save the district from him.
They are also demanding Mhaule respond in writing before February 8.

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According to Mr Walter Hlaise, Sadtu spokesman, the march was to demonstrate their frustrations and anger – both of which were the consequence of the imposition of the current Ehlanzeni district director (Zwane) without proper consultation or taking the union on board as a stakeholder.

“We have tried our best to accept and work with the parachuted district director while he has done his best to alienate stakeholders and irreversibly damage relations. He is uncouth and rude and does not have good human relations with colleagues and staff. He has created unhealthy relationships among officials in the district,” added Hlaise.

Ms Mandisa Ndlovu, Department of Education spokesman said they were not aware of what Sadtu was complaining about as they had received no formal correspondence from them.

“The department is aware that there was a march by Sadtu members to our district offices at the former Mgwenya College, but we are not aware what the demonstration is all about. We will only be aware about it once we receive their memorandum,” said Ndlovu.