KZN Premier intervenes to resolve teachers' strike and ensure June examinations proceed
Image: Meta AI
The June examinations are back on track after intervention from KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, who undertook to bring an end to teachers' work-to-rule protest action.
On June 2, the teachers' action involved strictly adhering to job regulations without any additional support. This meant schools cancelled extra classes and postponed the exams.
The teacher unions had called on the Department of Education (DoE) to address their grievances - that included the failure to pay acting allowances to office based teachers and education workers; and the failure to appoint substitute teachers.
Muzi Mahllambi, the spokesperson for the KZN DoE, said all schools would resume with the June examinations tomorrow.
Ntuli as well as Francois Rodgers, the MEC for Finance, and Sipho Hlomuka, the MEC for Education, met with the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) and the National Teachers' Union (Natu) last week.
In a statement, Ntuli said R900 million would be reprioritised to support education.
"All outstanding school payments (2024 and May 2025) will be paid within two weeks. The June exams will go ahead without disruption. Discussions on filling critical education posts are underway. As premier, I remain committed to ensuring that teaching and learning continue across KZN. This is about protecting the future of our children,' said Ntuli.
On Monday, Sadtu held a meeting with the Head of Department for the KZN DoE, Nkosinathi Ngcobo, to discuss a payment plan and the status of the June examinations.
Nomarashiya Caluza, Sadtu provincial secretary, said a number of schools did not write the exams as they lacked resources to administer the examinations.
'Many schools have raised concerns about how they are expected to administer exams without receiving the necessary funding from the department. It is widely acknowledged that these challenges stem from budget cuts implemented in recent years, along with decisions taken by the KZN Department of Finance. These include cash blocking, moratoriums on filling vacancies, and the freezing of approved posts on the department's organisational structure.
'The mere commitment by the premier to assist the department with R900 million does not automatically remove the reality that schools have no money and are waiting for the allocation from the department.
'The department will ensure that on June 18, all schools resume their mid-term examination. Schools that do not have the necessary resources to administer the June examination will be assisted by the department through printing enough examination papers for all affected schools."
Caluza said the union used the meeting with Ngcobo to reiterate its stance on standardised tests.
'Forcing schools to write common tests undermines the intellectual capacity of teachers, who teach but are denied the opportunity to assess their pupils. It is noted that the department in KZN imposes the writing of common tests by all schools that got below 85% in the 2024 NSC examination.
'The department in its presentation suggested that there are high performing schools that voluntarily applied to write common tests. This is far from the truth as schools are forced to write these tests. The writing of common tests is costly to the department and remains unjustifiable, especially during this time when the department is struggling financially,' she added.
Sadtu will meet with the DOE at the end of the month to discuss standardised tests.
'We have ended the work-to-rule action to allow the processing of payments and writing of examinations. This is a major victory for schools and for members who braved freezing conditions in the picket lines to fight for a just cause,' she said.
Natu's secretary general, Doctor Ngema, said they were pleased that Ntuli was addressing compensation for Grade R teachers, which would be reviewed.
'We are also pleased that payments to National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) service providers will be expedited to ensure uninterrupted food deliveries to schools.
'Hlomuka will engage further with Natu leadership on critical issues, including teacher recruitment and human resources processes. We acknowledge the premier's transparency regarding the province's constrained budget and commends his political will to address these challenges. The struggle continues, but we are encouraged by these steps forward,' Ngema added.
THE POST
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Urgent motion revived by National Assembly to address statutory rape of young girls
The portfolio committees of Social Development, Basic Education, Health, Justice, and Police were mandated to receive submissions on the statutory rape of young girls, review legislation, and if necessary, recommend amendments to enforce mandatory reporting of statutory rape by teachers and nurses. Image: Photographer: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers The National Assembly of South Africa unanimously agreed to revive a motion to investigate statutory rape of young girls and review existing laws for potential amendments. Initially introduced by the EFF in August last year, the motion was read by ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli to continue the work of committees that were unable to conduct public hearings. Ntuli said the portfolio committees of Social Development, Basic Education, Health, Justice, and Police were mandated to receive submissions on the statutory rape of young girls, review legislation, and if necessary, recommend amendments to enforce mandatory reporting of statutory rape by teachers and nurses. The committees were mandated to report to the House by March 31, 2025, but the actual hearings could not be conducted before the deadline. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Ntuli said there was a need for the work of the committees to be pursued as initially intended. He said the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities should lead the statutory rape related work and reporting to the National Assembly by November 30. DA chief whip George Michalakis said it was high time Parliament dealt with this issue of statutory rape, which cuts across various departments, decisively. 'Statutory rape of young girls in this country has become a crisis that needs to be dealt decisively by this Parliament,' Michalakis said. MK Party MP Hazel Mbele said the motion should not just be up for debate but it should be declared a national emergency. 'Right now in our townships, rural villages and even our schools, our children are raped, groomed and destroyed and the system is looking away,' Mbele said. She also said while the Sexual Offences Amendment Act criminalised sex with minors, the law was good as its enforcement. 'How many teachers have we seen walk free after impregnating learners? How many sugar daddies are still driving fancy cars while 15-year-old girls carry their babies and their trauma?' Mbele asked. EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi said the motion, that was tabled by former MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane without notice and was adopted, had brought to the attention of the House the alarming crisis of statutory rapes, a crisis highlighting distressing reality that young girls were coerced into premature motherhood and adulthood. 'These victims are often unaware that they are violated and are in urgent need of protection and justice,' Mkhaliphi said. ANC MP Oscar Mathafa said research showed that South Africa has extremely high rate of teenage pregnancies as one in four girls fall pregnant before they turn 20, and that out of 122,302 that gave birth in 2023/24, 2,616 were aged between 10 and 14. He said the statistics were a disjuncture to the Sexual Offences Amendment Act that prescribes that girls under the age of 12 can't give consent to sex. Mathafa said there was need for a collective effort to address teenage pregnancies with families being involved, and parents and guardians should report to authorities. 'The times of mediatory discussion among perpetrators and family members of victims cannot continue,' he said. Cape Argus
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Urgent call for political engagement to avert budget stalemate, says ANC chief whip
ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli acknowledged that the areas of disagreements over some department votes were political and not technical. Image: Supplied / ANC ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli on Thursday said there was no substitute for political work if the impasse over the 2025/26 Budget was to be avoided. Speaking during the meeting of the National Assembly Committee, Ntuli said the budget was not a small matter. 'There is no substitute in terms of political work that has to be done. I understand that work has begun, but it has to be intensified. When we are at crossroads like we find ourselves in now, we have to plan for various scenarios,' he said. Ntuli made the comments after UDM parliamentary leader Nqabayomzi Kwankwa and National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza called for political engagement amid fears that the Appropriation Bill, which forms part of the Budget, may not be passed next week. This happens as the parliamentary rules provide that budget votes for each department should be passed along with the Appropriation Bill, among other things. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The DA has threatened not to support the departmental budgets led by those ministers it deems are compromised and should be axed from the Cabinet. Kwankwa said it could not be that political management of the situation was left until next Wednesday when the Appropriation Bill was tabled. 'Is political management not supposed to take place beforehand?' he asked. 'I want to appeal that the political footwork should start now, and we can't exist to provide for things rules are not made for,' Kwankwa added. Didiza said she was sure that where there were issues of a political nature, different political parties will have to engage. 'I hope parties go through the votes to understand their differences and not burden Parliament on matters that can be dealt bilaterally by parties,' Didiza said. Earlier, Ntuli wanted to know if they could start with votes where there was consensus and deal last with those that parties had declared they would not support. 'We know parties made a public declaration on which vote they are to vote for. We know the DA where it stands unless it changes. We know the MK has tended to vote against everything.' He acknowledged that the areas of disagreement over some votes were political and not technical. 'When we refer to the committee, political disagreement won't find a solution,' he said, adding that the committee can't solve the issue if a party does not support a particular vote because they have issues with a certain minister. MK Party's Visvin Reddy said the parliamentary processes should be allowed to unfold. 'You can't say for certain this is how parties will vote. There will be behind-the-scenes meetings,' he said. However, National Assembly Secretary Masibulele Xaso indicated that it could be arranged that the contentious votes be dealt with last. 'That should not be an issue. If there is a need that there must suspension of business to consult, business can be suspended and parties will be able to consult,' he said. Responding to Ntuli's question about timeframe for the standing committee to further process the bill once rejected by the national Assembly, parliamentary legal advisor Frank Jenkins said: 'That is within Parliament authority to determine its internal arrangements.' But, Xaso indicated that parliamentary rules provide that the same bill can't be introduced more than once in a session. 'The House can decide by resolution that a bill can be reintroduced,' he said. Didiza said they would provide further clarity to the parties on legal issues should the need arise. 'If there is a need for quicker consultation with whips and the National Assembly Programme Committee next week, we will have a meeting even if it means the sitting is online so that all parties attend. If there are new matters, the amendment of rules will be done,' she said. Meanwhile, EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi called for the tightening of rules and any legal gaps on matters related to the budget. 'Parliament must move with speed,' she said. This was a sentiment similar echoed by Ntuli earlier. 'We need to imagine what it is that we can do within our power in the event the law is silent,' he said in reference to a lacuna that was never anticipated by lawmakers. Didiza undertook to come in the event that there might be legal gaps and rules that might need consideration.
The Herald
11-07-2025
- The Herald
Mkhwanazi doing well after week of police 'crisis': KZN premier Ntuli
Ntuli also condemned the actions of some lobby groups who were stopping the provision of services at hospitals and clinics in the province. 'The problem of undocumented foreign nationals is serious hence as government we are trying to understand the extent of the problem and why it's easy to get into South Africa. I have already been to the border between South Africa and Mozambique and have a clear sense of how there is an influx of foreigners coming into the country.' It was necessary for lobby groups not to break the law in addressing the issue of illegal foreigners, he said. In May Ntuli and Mkhwanazi, together with department of labour and home affairs officials, raided a KwaDukuza textile factory which was said to be employing more than 300 undocumented workers. The crackdown resulted in the arrest of 179 people. It also transpired that 158 people did not have permits to be in the country. The owner of the factory was arrested and charged for violating immigration and labour laws. The company, which has been in operation for more than 25 years, was a supplier to reputable retail clothing outlets, Ntuli said, adding that the move was aimed at protecting the provincial economy. TimesLIVE
