Nehawu has requested Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul to accept a memorandum at the Department of Education offices in Barkly Road in Kimberley on Friday, as it believes the DSC building in Memorial Road is not accessible to the community.
THE NATIONAL Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) have requested Northern Cape Premier Dr Zamani Saul to accept a memorandum at the Department of Education offices in Barkly Road in Kimberley today, as they believe the DSC building in Memorial Road is not accessible to the community.
A march that was supposed to proceed to the premier’s office at the JW Sauer building had to be re-routed to the Department of Education in Barkly Road as uncertainty exists as to where the premier is stationed.
Sections, including IT and the Office of the Youth, Women, Disability, Communications and e-Government, have apparently already relocated to the new office building.
Community leader Herbert Miller and a member of the Justice 4 All organisation – which will also participate in the march, stated that they were still trying to establish at which building the premier was currently stationed.
“It would be a pointless exercise to march to the JW Sauer building if the premier is not there,” Miller pointed out.
Nehawu is dissatisfied with the response to a memorandum that was handed over regarding senior managers implicated in alleged sexual offences, the alleged rape of pupils, the inaction of the HOD relating to grievances and the appointment of senior officials who do not meet the requirements.
Nehawu branch secretary Thozi Mbasa said they were informed that the Office of the Premier had relocated to the new building.
“The new offices are far away and a march will disrupt traffic and businesses in the area. We wanted to organise the march last week but when we got there we were told that the premier was in Upington with Mandela Day festivities.”
He added that they received information that the department intended to suspend two of their branch leaders for incitement and bringing the department into disrepute.
“This amounts to victimisation and intimidation. They (the branch leaders) have been accused of organising lunchtime pickets and of supporting parents who alleged that their children were raped and are demanding the suspension of senior members whom they stated are being shielded.
“The two members investigated the allegations of sexual harassment and separately made adverse findings against the human resources officials. Educators implicated in the rape of pupils are being transferred to other schools without facing any repercussions.”
Mbasa indicated that the suspensions would not prevent the union from pursuing these grievances.
“Lunchtime pickets were held outside the department’s offices this week. A compulsory staff meeting was arranged for the same time that the march is supposed to take place. Our members will not be at work on Friday (today).”
Mbasa stated that the department was supposed to attend to electrical compliance, building regulations and safety and occupational hazards at the provincial office, which were identified in a report issued by the Department of Employment and Labour.
Northern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Geoffrey van der Merwe said that every effort was being made to engage and resolve matters with organised labour.
“It is unfortunate that certain matters, while under discussion and investigation, we are not able to immediately conclude upon,” said Van der Merwe.
“The department attempts to give feedback and reports on progress with regards to several cases as lodged by organised labour.
“We also need to point out that some matters are sub judice or the subject of criminal investigations, hence we are not at liberty to comment on these via the media.”
