Latest news with #SADTU
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
SADTU halts work-to-rule protest in KZN as Education Department pledges to make outstanding payments
The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) in KwaZulu-Natal has suspended its province-wide work-to-rule campaign following a meeting with the Department of Education. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) in KwaZulu-Natal has suspended its province-wide work-to-rule campaign following a meeting with the Department of Education earlier this week, where the department committed to paying outstanding school allocations and resolving examination disruptions. SADTU said the meeting with Head of Department, GN Ngcobo and his top management followed engagements with the Premier, who pledged R900 million in emergency funding to address the ongoing education crisis. '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 union stated. According to SADTU, the department committed to making payments to schools by July 4 and July 31. 'Upon receiving the Premier's committed money, the employer will make payments to schools,' the union said. In addition, SADTU confirmed that the department would address the backlog in 2024 basic and Learning and Teaching Support Material allocations as it receives its equitable share from the National Treasury. The union also welcomed the revised mid-year examination timetable, which resumes on June 18. '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,' SADTU said, adding that it supports the revised schedule. 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 ✕ However, SADTU criticised the department's policy on compulsory common tests for underperforming schools. 'Forcing schools to write common tests undermines the intellectual capacity of teachers who teach but get denied the opportunity to assess their learners,' the union said. It further challenged the department's assertion that high-performing schools requested to write the tests, saying 'this is far from the truth as schools are forced to write these tests.' The department's internal memo dated June 17 confirms that schools with a 2024 NSC pass rate of 85% or less 'must adhere to the revised common test programme' while those above 85% that 'voluntarily requested' to participate must also comply. 'The writing of common tests is costly to the Department and remains unjustifiable, especially during this financially challenging time,' SADTU noted. The union said the department agreed to convene a meeting by June 27 to discuss standardised testing. In conclusion, SADTU announced the suspension of its work-to-rule action. 'The union leadership will continue to have meetings with the department as a way of monitoring the implementation of the decisions and commitments done by the employer,' it said. 'We thank our members for their commitment… Everyone knows that without their effort and dedication on the picket line, we would not have scored these victories for our schools.' THE MERCURY
Eyewitness News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
KZN Premier says he had no clue schools were having financial difficulties
DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli says he had no clue that schools in the province were unable to operate daily due to financial difficulties, and he has committed to turning the situation around. Several schools in KZN have revealed that they can't function due to a lack of money. Teacher unions NATU (National Teachers' Union) and SADTU (South African Democratic Teachers Union) have approached Ntuli's office about the issue. They say the allocations are not meeting the norms and standards for school funding. Ntuli says this will be resolved over the next few days. The norms and standards for school funding provide a framework for how government funds should be allocated to public schools. But with schools across the province pointing out they have not received what is due to them, teaching and learning have been disrupted. Teacher unions and pupils at some schools have resorted to pickets. But after meeting the union, Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli admitted this was news to him. 'I wasn't aware of the situation, that it was such bad.' The premier says he will address the situation. 'As from next week we will be beginning to pay schools, in two weeks' time no school must be owed and going forward, I said for the norms and standards, the government must not owe schools.' Ntuli has committed R900 million to be allocated to schools across KZN. He says the money will be sourced from all other departments in the province.
Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Trump ambush a sideshow, as South African investors focus on coalition
FILE PHOTO: A street vendor sells fruit as members of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) participate in a protest march against budget cuts and austerity measures in public education in Pretoria, South Africa, April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ihsaan Haffejee/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Members of the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) participate in a protest march against budget cuts and austerity measures in public education in Pretoria, South Africa, April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Ihsaan Haffejee/File Photo FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump meets South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo JOHANNESBURG - For investors, the spectacle of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's fraught Oval Office encounter with U.S. counterpart Donald Trump was little more than a sideshow. The true test for Africa's most industrialised nation, they say, will be whether its coalition government can survive long enough to bolster lacklustre growth and contain debt. As Trump confronted Ramaphosa on Wednesday with false claims of white genocide and land seizures during a face-to-face meeting at the White House that was broadcast live, back home South African politicians were finally uniting behind a budget. Though it took three attempts, agreement on the spending bill puts to bed, at least for now, a tug-of-war that earlier this year threatened to destroy the fragile political union and had sent the rand toward record lows and bond yields spiking. The drawn-out budget saga was a painful episode for South Africa's government of national unity (GNU) - its first significant attempt at a governing coalition in the country's 30-year history as a multiracial democracy. A breakup of the GNU, which includes the African National Congress and longtime rival Democratic Alliance, would have derailed the reform momentum investors have been calling for. But risks still remain, investors told Reuters. "I'm looking for the coalition to stay together. That's the most important thing," said Shamaila Khan, head of emerging-market fixed income at UBS Wealth Management. "For now the coalition is in place, but it's a shaky coalition. So you want to be careful what you buy and make sure there's enough risk premium there." INEQUALITY, UNEMPLOYMENT AND DEBT RISKS For the past two decades, South Africa has struggled to achieve growth high enough to make a meaningful dent in gaping inequality and an unemployment rate that ranks among the world's highest. Public debt, meanwhile, has shot up as the government has failed to rein in runaway spending, prompting credit rating downgrades. For investors overall, most of the budget is market-neutral, said Kim Silberman, macro strategist at Matrix Fund Managers. "The risk is that it's unlikely that the debt will stabilise this year," she said. The revised budget, stripped of a contentious value-added tax hike, which the fiscally conservative DA had opposed, puts this year's deficit at 4.8% of GDP and lifts the peak debt ratio to 77.4% in 2025/26, up from 76.2% in March ahead of a decline. But much of the plan hinges on higher revenue collection and cost-cutting, with analysts predicting a challenge ahead. The "real work now begins", JPMorgan said in a note to clients on Thursday. 'LESSONS WERE LEARNED' National Treasury officials told an investor call on Wednesday that South Africa is committed to fiscal discipline and maintaining credibility. They also place significant faith in the South African Revenue Service, which recently received additional income. SARS has indicated it could generate an extra 20-50 billion rand (1.1-$2.8 billion) annually, which is currently not pencilled into the next budget but would enable Treasury to withdraw planned tax increases down the line. In an interview with Reuters, however, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana warned that missing the revenue target would force substantial cost cutting. Navigating the fragile balance between shoring up finances while keeping on board all the GNU's various coalition partners - some of whom, like the ANC and DA, embrace radically different ideologies - will be a balancing act for policy makers. "Local politics play a big role," said Brendan McKenna, an executive director at Wells Fargo, who covers emerging market economies and currency strategies. If the coalition government is preserved, which is McKenna's base scenario, South Africa may gather more robust growth momentum and local markets could maintain their solid performance. "Should the GNU disintegrate, growth prospects would dwindle and (the rand) would come under pressure. The possibility of recession would rise and stagnant medium-term growth would likely be a result," said McKenna. Treasury officials acknowledged the increased political complexity when speaking to investors. The first two budget attempts collapsed under a kind of political turbulence not seen in democratic-era South Africa until the ANC, the party of the late Nelson Mandela, lost its 30-year parliamentary majority in last year's election. "The budget was the first significant piece of legislation that the new government had to consider," Treasury officials said. "Important lessons were learned." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
SADTU supports civil society in pushing for copyright reform to boost schools' access to resources
The SA Democratic Teachers' Union has called for the Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) to be signed into law to improve access to resources for school children. Image: Supplied The South African Democratic Teachers' Union (SADTU) has thrown its weight behind a coalition of civil society organisations picketing outside the Constitutional Court on Wednesday, urging the President to sign the long-delayed Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) and Performers' Protection Amendment Bill (PPAB) into law. The protest, led by Blind SA, SECTION27, ReCreate Action, and the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA), seeks to pressure the state into advancing laws that campaigners say are crucial for educational equity, disability rights, and the protection of creatives. The CAB, which amends South Africa's outdated 1978 Copyright Act, and the PPAB, which amends the 1967 Performers' Protection Act, were passed by Parliament in February 2024. However, President Cyril Ramaphosa has not yet signed them into law, citing constitutional concerns with several sections and referring the bills to the Constitutional Court in October 2024. SADTU says the bills are vital to ensuring access to inclusive, decolonised education, especially in under-resourced rural schools. 'Fair copyright legislation is essential to enable teachers to adapt and use materials, enrich them, make them context-specific, and address an increasingly diverse student body,' the union said in a statement. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The Constitutional Court is hearing arguments for two days, starting on Wednesday, on the constitutionality of certain provisions of the CAB, including fair use and exceptions for education and disabilities. Blind SA, represented by SECTION27, is participating as an interested party after winning a court order in 2022 compelling Parliament to amend copyright law to accommodate the blind by September 2024. However, when the CAB was not signed into law and the 2022 court order had lapsed, the groups returned to court to seek relief. The Constitutional Court recently reconfirmed the 2022 order with some amendments. 'We believe that the exceptions for education, libraries, and archives are essential in transforming our society,' said Blind SA. SECTION27 echoed this, calling the CAB a vehicle for equal access to educational materials and cultural participation. Other supporters include the Library and Information Association of South Africa, Wikimedia South Africa, and Right2Know. 'This is an unprecedented coming together of sectors of society who are disadvantaged by current copyright laws,' said ReCreate Action. For actors, the PPAB is equally critical. 'The CAB enables the collection and distribution of royalties, while the PPAB grants performers the right to earn them,' said SAGA, highlighting the vulnerability of performers in an unregulated industry. THE MERCURY
Mail & Guardian
20-05-2025
- Science
- Mail & Guardian
AK NPC and SADTU joint training programme for science club practitioners at Cape winelands and Overberg schools
In the first school term of 2025, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) held meetings with AK NPC to discuss the advancement of science and science education in schools and how these two organisations could collectively assist schools to provide learners greater exposure to science and technology. After deliberations between members of AK NPC and SADTU , it was decided to respond to the many calls for assistance to develop science clubs from the stakeholders (subject advisors, education officials, principals and science teachers) of two Western Cape Education Department (WCED) districts, namely Cape Winelands and Overberg. This initiative stems from the members of Advancing Knowledge NPC's long-standing involvement in establishing science clubs at schools in these districts. For example, in 2004 the first science club competition was arranged at Cape Winelands Education District Office in Worcester where science clubs from more than 20 schools (including primary and secondary schools) participated. The science club competition has since been held annually in Worcester and in the year 2025, AK NPC will be hosting its 21 st annual science club competition . The members of Advancing Knowledge NPC annual STEM Roadshows to rural schools across the country mostly consisted of teachers from Cape Winelands and Overberg schools. The road shows formed part of the national Department of Science, Technology and Innovation's National Science Week during which time science shows, science exhibitions and science club activities were held for learners and teachers who were continuously encouraged to develop science clubs at their schools. In 2024, Advancing Knowledge NPC held a training programme for science club practitioners of the West Coast and teachers from Cape Winelands and Overberg region served as facilitators in the training to share their experiences as champions of science clubs. Prof Shaheed Hartley as Director of Advancing Knowledge NPC together with Garden Cities Archway Foundation (GCAF) and Western Cape Education Department (WCED) have to date constructed a total of 28 brand new science laboratories (14 primary and 14 secondary) at Cape Winelands and Overberg districts schools – a further 4 science laboratories are currently constructed in Overberg. This two-day training was held on 15 and 16 May 2025 at Bonnievale Primary School near Swellendam. A total of 65 teachers from 33 schools of the two education districts attended the training on each day. The training programme was opened by SADTU representatives Jonita Philander and Russel Sampson who encouraged teachers to use the skills and knowledge gained over the two days to establish their science clubs. Prof Shaheed Hartley (Director AK NPC) provided an overview of the establishment of science clubs in the two districts, provided teachers with a guide on how to create and advance science clubs at their schools and how to successfully sustain the science activities conducted in the science club. Safety precautions and procedures when working with science activities were especially emphasised. Teachers were divided into three groups to attend the three parallel sessions prepared for the science club training namely physics, chemistry and technology. One of the venues was the science laboratory (STEM TLC) built by the partnership between AK NPC, GCAF and WCED. The training programme was alternated over the two days to allow everyone to attend each of the three parallel sessions. In each session teachers were faced with demonstrations of interesting activities by experienced facilitators and then allowed hands-on participation in the activities ready-made to be transferred into their science clubs. The three sessions were led by facilitators Mark Ogilvie (York Road PS) and Dr Gillian Arendse (iThemba Labs) in physics, Robert Solomon (CPUT) in technology and Gert Marero (Ashton HS) in chemistry. They were supported by co-facilitators and experienced science club practitioners Danie Burger (AK NPC), Analida Malies (Dagbreek PS), Evelyn Johnson (Bonnievale PS), Joanne Lindeboom (Oker PS), Abigail Joseph (Langeberg HS), Devon Espin and Recobin Conradie (Ashbury PS), Mira Snyman (Le Chasseur PS), Lucinda van Wyk (Kenwyn PS), Saadiqah Fraden, Yura Joubert and Somila Dlakavu (AK NPC interns) and Melissa Petersen (AK NPC projects coordinator). The 2-day programme was an opportunity for science and other interested teachers to participate in training on how to establish a science club from scratch and/or to renew, reinvigorate and advance existing initiatives in this regard. Teachers were taken by hand and showed how to start with elementary science experiments, investigations, exhibitions and activities and to expand on it in terms of the level of difficulty and complexity. During the training emphasis was laid on safety and the use of elementary everyday products to illustrate science concepts, principles and procedures. All three sessions had teachers 'oohing and aahing' while cheering and applauding the flow of engaging activities and outcomes that challenged their scientific knowledge and understanding. This was interspersed with the regular controlled huge explosions and loud bangs, and a spectrum of coloured flames as Gert Marero and his chemistry colleagues took teachers to areas of greater possibility, while Mark and Robert's teams took turns to fetch water rockets from the school's upper-story roof. A final session consisting of a science show by Dr Gillian Arendse (iThemba Labs) and members of the AK NPC team of facilitators rounded off proceedings. The overriding idea of the training was for teachers to translate the gained knowledge and skills to their learners in a science club at their schools and for the science club to participate in the science club competition of the two districts. The Cape Winelands-Overberg Science Club Competition will take place on 02 October 2025 at the Cape Winelands Education District Offices in Worcester. EVALUATION The following are some of teachers' perceptions of science club training expressed in their evaluations: This science club training added so much value to my development as a science club practitioner because I did not learn this stuff at university. There was a lot of concepts and information that I did not know before but now I can share this new knowledge with my learners in the science club and in my science lessons. I learnt that science is fun. The practical activities done increased my skills and knowledge. I have learnt to teach a concept in a variety of ways to learners especially practically so that they can explore especially in the science club. A science club is the first thing I will start with my learners. I need to let them do things on their own but also guided by me. Thank you SADTU and AK NPC. This was the best workshop for me to attend. More please. Yes new knowledge and skills were gained but also how to use everyday products and materials for experiments. Absolutely loved this training. It was exciting, exhilarating, scary, fun, entertaining and knowledge-bearing. Oh so much knowledge and skills on how to do experiments using simple products that you get everywhere. I cant wait to implement this in my science club but also for NST (natural science and technology). I can't wait for the booklets that you guys are going to e-mail us so that we can do some of the experiments. In the meantime I have so many videos that I took of every activity I witnessed. Thanks Prof and the guys, this was well worth attending. If only all the workshops could have this kind of entertaining and interactive basis instead of the boring meetings that one is forced to attend. You guys kept our attention and concentration, not because you asked us but because we wanted to be part of everything that was happening. We did not want to miss anything. The information we received was sometimes overwhelming. I can understand the limited time we worked with but you actually needed 2 days for each of the physics, chemistry and technology sessions. I look forward to receiving further information by e-mail. Yes it emphasised that one can practice a kaleidoscope of experiments in a variety of ways while having fun. It made us look at it from the viewpoint of our 'naughty learners' who push the boundaries due to curiosity. Even after having a science club for the past ten years, this has opened by eyes to new presentation techniques. Yes it made me more excited to do more science in class as well as the STEM club. I want to expand our club more and make it more fun. Learners nowadays must learn in a more practical manner given our large class numbers. This workshop just kickstarted that element for me. Organisations that want to contribute and partner in this initiative to empower and capacitate science clubs to build a critical mass of future STEM practitioners in rural schools are encouraged to make contact with the Director of AK NPC, Prof Shaheed Hartley (
