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By Sheree Bega 
15h ago
Johannesburg – The SA Democratic Union of Teachers (Sadtu) said on Friday night that it will not allow any of its members to report to work on Monday because the Department of Basic Education has failed to meet the minimum requirements to ensure safety. level 4 during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has not been purchased for office staff, school educators, and educational support staff. The disinfection of schools and offices has not even reached 25 percent. “
Sadtu said it is “illegal to wait for workers to report to service when their safety is not guaranteed. The union has an obligation to advise its members not to jeopardize their safety and that of their families and communities by reporting to service earlier that these safety precautions are taken. “
On April 30, the minister of basic education announced that management teams would report to schools on Monday, while teachers would return on May 18.
“She (Angie Motshekga) promised that the non-negotiable would be delivered to the schools before they opened. These included, among others, fumigation and disinfection; adequate infrastructure in the form of sanitary facilities; observance of social distancing within classrooms and on courtyards; class size reduction; supply of soap, disinfectants and masks; evaluation of students, teachers and support staff; social distancing in the transportation of students to and from schools; provision of psychosocial services to help students as well as teachers build resilience and allay fears between students and teachers. “
Sadtu said he asked the department to comply “since we don’t want our members’ lives to be in danger.”
“We call on our members who would travel from various provinces to remain safe in their homes until the competent authority modifies the regulations as requested by teachers unions. The department should release the workers, who commute daily between provinces, from the burden of anxiety, providing clarity on how they should travel. ”
Elijah Mhlanga, a department spokesperson, praised Sadtu. “They are doing the right thing. The department first informed provincial officials that they should not report to work on Monday because the preparations have not been completed.
“Security measures cannot be compromised. We cannot risk lives, but stay at home until everything is ready, “he said.
The provinces were in different stages of preparation, he said, and would be informed when staff would return.
Saturday star
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