North school learners lock teachers out of school
The learners vowed that there would be no classes until striking security guards were paid their salaries.
Learners at Filadelfia secondary school prevented teachers from entering the school on Monday morning to show solidarity with 24 security guards employed at the school who have not been paid their salaries for two months.
The guards said they had to sleep at the school due to a lack of transportation money and fears of being fired from their jobs.
Teachers were forced to go back home around 11:00 as the learners refused to open the gate.
The learners said it was unfair that the security guards have not been paid for this long, but were still expected to execute their daily duties.
They said preventing teachers from entering the school premises would raise awareness to the Gauteng Department of Education to do something about the problems faced by the security guards.
“By doing this, maybe the department will take the issue seriously. We want the department to do something,” said the learners.
The learners vowed that there would be no classes until the guards were paid.
ALSO READ: No salaries for 24 guards at school over past two months
They also raised concerns about their safety in school as the guards stopped working last week.
The guards said they only received their December salaries on January 25 and have not received any salary since.
Last week, South African Cleaners, Security and Allied workers Union (SACSAU) national organiser Andries Diphapang Potsane said what was happening to their members at the school was “not fair”.
Potsane said their members were being exploited.
“Every month when they are supposed to get their salaries, they are instead told that the department hasn’t paid the company yet. It is very painful.”
He said their members went on strike because “that is the only language the government understands”.
“We want the department to intervene.”
Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said the department was aware of the strike at the school.
Mabona said they are concerned about the disruption of the curriculum in the school especially since they have been working towards the stability of the school and ensuring that learners focus on their schoolwork.
“Our officials are working tirelessly to finalise the administrative process to pay the affected service providers. We are also quite concerned about the safety of the school’s teachers and learners.
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