Nehawu prevents parents and staff members from accessing WCED services

Statement by Minister David Maynier, Minister of Education Western Cape

It is absolutely unacceptable that some striking Nehawu workers invaded the walk-in Client Service Centre at the Western Cape Education Department head office today.

This is despite an interdict being in place to prevent Nehawu from taking this kind of action. The South African Police Service (SAPS) were immediately called.

Parents and teachers waiting patiently for support on a range of issues were completely disregarded by the protestors, and prevented from going about their business.

Most disturbingly, eyewitnesses report that the striking workers entered the Service Centre under false pretences, posing as parents before removing items of clothing to reveal Nehawu t-shirts.

This is deliberately deceitful behaviour, designed to cause fear and to disrupt the business of our department.

Nehawu has clearly demonstrated that they do not care about our learners, parents or teachers. Their invasion of the Service Centre has prevented parents from submitting admissions queries, teachers from rectifying salary or payment issues, retired teachers from dealing with pension matters, and a host of other regular support services from being completed.

Nehawu is demonstrating a complete lack of regard for the wellbeing of our learners, teachers and ex-teachers, and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated by the WCED.

Media Enquiries:
Kerry Mauchline
Spokesperson to Minister David Maynier
Western Cape Ministry of Education
Kerry.Mauchline@westerncape.gov.za