South Africa: Thousands of Teachers March Against Budget Cuts

SADTU has warned of a strike if the government continues cutting social spending.

On Wednesday, Pretoria's city center was filled with red, black, and green. Thousands of SADTU members marched against budget cuts in public education. Heavy police presence accompanied the crowd as they sang struggle songs. They waved placards while marching to National Treasury and education department offices. Members of COSATU and SACP also joined the protest.

The teachers' union expressed concerns about recent budget cuts. They highlighted the negative impact on education and teacher morale. Issues include poor school infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms, and increased workloads. Many schools lack basic facilities like toilets and libraries. There are also growing threats of violence on school premises.

In a press conference last year, Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube spoke about financial pressures on provincial education departments. She noted these issues have developed over years due to aggressive budget cuts and a stagnant economy. Gwarube revealed a projected budget shortfall of R118 billion from 2021/22 to 2027/28 across provinces.

Gwarube emphasized that these budget pressures affect real lives. They lead to fewer teachers, insufficient textbooks, and less administrative support staff. As a result, teachers spend more time on admin work instead of teaching. This situation threatens the future of children if it continues unchanged.