Nehawu’s regional chairperson in the Dr Kenneth Kaunda district, Tshepiso Zwem, tells OFM News that about five colleges in the province have been shut down as the strike intensifies over the Department of Higher Education and Training’s failure to meet their demands since 2015.

Talks between the union and the department last week failed to reach a resolution. The union called the strike over the unfair treatment of its staff members, including that they were underpaid. Students have since joined the strike because they feel that the curriculum at TVET colleges was not useful and the sector was not taken seriously enough. Zwem says the union has engaged the department since 2015 but seemingly its call fell on deaf ears.

At least five colleges include three Vuselela colleges in Klerksdorp, one in Potchefstroom, and Taletso in Rustenburg. Zwem says the downing of tools at TVET colleges is necessary to force the department to adhere to their issues. He says on Tuesday the union reached a settlement with the department but they are yet to present this settlement to their members.

OFM News