Over 50 people attended a meeting in Salt River on Saturday to mobilize against the planned retrenchment of thousands of teachers in the Western Cape. The organizers described themselves as an "anti-capitalist, pro-working class group of independent activists." A total of 2,407 teaching posts are to be cut in the province by 1 January due to severe budget cuts, which is about 6% of the approximately 37,000 teachers in the Western Cape.
Abeedah Adams, one of the organizers, said that about 100,000 learners would be affected. Daphne Erosi, a parent organizer from Equal Education, said that learners cannot be in class without teachers. Aliya Chikte, of the Alternative Information and Development Centre, blamed austerity policies for the situation. Clement Meyers, a teacher from Athlone High School, said he is in meetings with other teachers daily and they are very concerned.
South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) provincial secretary Sibongile Kwazi said that the province must redirect money to avoid losing teacher posts. She said the union would organize a meeting next week on the issue. Several speakers argued that rural schools were being affected the most by the budget cuts.
The organisers suggested forums to organise teachers, learners, and union members. There was also a call to organize in the build-up to the medium-term budget, set for the end of October. Western Cape MEC for Education David Maynier urged teachers and unions to "fight alongside us, rather than against us" in a statement on Thursday.
A statement by the recently appointed national Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube made it clear that the budget cuts affect all provinces. The minister met with the provincial education MECs on Friday and agreed that each province will undertake an analysis of the specific impact in their jurisdiction and report back to a special meeting. As soon as this impact analysis is completed, the minister will convene an urgent meeting with the Minister of Finance to work toward a solution that safeguards the future of our learners.
