Northern Academy protest called off

The planned march against racism and unfair treatment of workers today (Thursday) at Northern Academy Secondary School by members of South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has been suspended by the union.
This after yesterday’s engagement between the union and Curro Holdings and an agreement reached late last night (Wednesday).
Curro Holdings Spokesperson Mari Lategan this morning (Thursday) responded to Polokwane Observer’s lead story confirming discussions with Sadtu yesterday (Wednesday) and that an agreement was reached not to continue with the march. “Curro has agreed to engage with Sadtu on any issues that they may regard as unresolved,” she said.
Sadtu Provincial Chairperson Matome Raphasha also confirmed the suspension of the march this morning. “Our decision to suspend the march is based purely on positive discussions and agreements with Curro Holdings yesterday,” he said.
The lead article reported that while a group of learners from Northern Academy Secondary School at the new campus on the Modjadjiskloof road embarked on a stay away since Monday because of a water shortage at the hostel, South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) was expected to protest against racism and unfair treatment of workers today (Thursday).
A letter from Sadtu addressed to parents stated that the union and all progressive workers at Northern Academy will be protesting against racism and unfair treatment of workers by the school management and Curro Holdings.
The letter stated that the mass will protest against racist actions in the school such as the use of separate toilets for whites and blacks, huge salary disparities between white and black educators, black assistant teachers with qualifications who never get permanent positions and unfair dismissal of black workers and learners. Sadtu Deputy Secretary Sowell Tjebane confirmed the planned protest.
Since Monday a shortage of water due to a burst pipe caused discontent among learners who embarked on a stay away because they were unable to shower before school. It is not clear how many learners are involved in the stay away but several learners were still attending classes by Tuesday.
“We as students were told that Northern Academy is a safe and healthy environment but what we are getting here is a total opposite of what we were promised. We believe that if a certain thing happens more than twice it is not a mistake but a habit. We cannot go to school without bathing while paying a lot of money,” a learner who asked to remain anonymous said, adding that the school was quick to confront a learner’s parents if school fees are not paid.
Learners expressed disgust with the way the situation was being handled. “The teachers wouldn’t come to work without bathing so how on earth do they expect us to attend school without being refreshed? They also alleged that teachers were entering the hostels by force, demanding that the learners should put on uniform and go to class. “Male teachers enter the hostels finding female learners naked and some half naked. What about our privacy?” the learners asked.
Learners claimed they had been put on a list to be transported to the institution’s Suid Street campus to bath but that unless their names were listed there was no chance of getting a shower. “This is a waste of money on poor service delivery. School management should practice what they preach and be consistent. Northern Academy must fall or fees must fall,” they said.
Lategan on Tuesday confirmed the incident in response to Polokwane Observer’s initial inquiry. “We can confirm that a burst pipe has affected our water supply to the hostel. This is receiving urgent and immediate attention. All learners involved have been informed and we are following internal processes to deal with the discomfort experienced,” she said.

Story: RC Myburgh
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