Teacher union accuses DBE of stalling tactics
The Professional Educators' Union (PEU) has accused the Department of Basic Education (DBE) of stalling tactics amid growing calls to close schools.
Five unions met with Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, on Saturday to submit proposals on why schools should close their doors.
However, the unions were called for an emergency meeting with deputy minister Reginah Mhaule on Sunday night to resubmit the same documents.
PEU General Secretary, Ben Machipi has slammed the Department for giving them the run-around.
“What really shocked us is that the Deputy Minister was still requesting the document that we present to the Minister, personally,” he says.
“We were taken by surprise. That meeting was really a waste of time, even more so because it was an emergency meeting.”
ALSO READ:
Cosas slams 'uncaring' govt amid calls for pupils to stay at home
Cosas says it held a meeting last weekend where it was resolved that all schools should be closed indefinitely. This comes amid calls by several teachers unions, including the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), for schools to close until after the Covid-19 peak has passed.
Machipi says a task team has been established to deal with the matter.
The task team is comprised of Education MECs from 5 provinces - Kwazi Mshengu of KwaZulu-Natal, Panyaza Lesufi of Gauteng, Debbie Schafer of the Western Cape, Wendy Matsemela of North West and Polly Boshielo of Limpopo.
“We even asked whether they are running two parallel processes at the Department. They might be playing politics or it’s a delaying tactic,” Machipi adds.
The unions were set to meet with the Department again on Monday.
“We requested that they meet with us today and they complied. Wed will be meeting them at 6pm today.”