The largest teachers’ union, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), has expressed its support for Cosatu’s nationwide shutdown against job losses.

Sadtu has stated that teachers’ jobs are much more than just a way of making a living and urged all its members to join the strike as they continue calling for improved working conditions, safety and protection at schools. Concerns around teachers’ working conditions and safety at schools recently got under the spotlight following the collapse of a walkway connecting two buildings at the Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark where 4 children died and 20 others were seriously injured.

Cosatu’s Job Dliso says although he cannot confirm whether schools in his North West province and other provinces will be affected or not, they are of the view that teachers who are members of the unions will partake in the strike.

He alludes that they are steadfast in their call for job security, occupational health and safety for workers across all workplaces, implementation of the national health insurance and are expecting all the workers in the province to join their march.

Participants in the strike are expected to gather at the Montshiwa Stadium from 9am and march to the Provincial Legislature at 11 am.

Routes to be affected in Central SA are as follows:

Free State

Members of the federation and its alliances will assemble from 9am at Welkom’s UNITAS Secondary School and march from 10am to the Welkom Central Park, where they will hand over a memorandum of demands to a number of employers in the area.

North West

Participants in the strike are expected to gather at the Montshiwa Stadium in Mahikeng from 9am and march to the Provincial Legislature at 11 am.

Northern Cape

The march is expected to kick off at Kemo Hotel in Kimberley, head to the Department of Labour, the CCMA, the Department of Mineral Resources and proceed to the Mid-life towers, commonly known at the Post Office Building, where they will be handing over a memorandum of demands to the different provincial departments, including the office of the Premier.

OFM News