SADTU calls for closure of all schools until after COVID-19 peak

Teacher union, SADTU, has expressed concern about the Department of Basic Education’s decision to reopen schools, saying they ignored warnings to wait until September 2020.

SADTU’s National Executive Committee is calling for the closure of all schools until after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are growing calls to suspend schooling as many facilities are recording positive coronavirus cases. SADTU General-Secretary Mugwena Maluleke,says they are worried about the rapid increase in coronavirus cases.

In the video below, SADTU explains call for immediate closure of schools:

“The decision of the National Executive to call for the schools to close for the period was informed by the following. The peak in the country. The virus is reaching its peak and at the same time, we are in the winter season which is known for its influenza impact. The community infections have been continuing since the reopening of the schools and inevitably affecting the schools. We call on the minister of basic education through the NICD to use this peak period to provide answers to the teachers and to curb the spread and to save lives in our country”.

In the video below, teachers union SADTU briefs the media as COVID-19 cases rise rapidly:

SADTU says the country failed to follow the World Health Organisation guidelines on reopening schools, resulting in an increase in the number of teachers and learners infected by COVID-19.

.@DrMikeRyan responded to a question about the role that children play in #COVID19 transmission ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/K3XynONA1e

— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 13, 2020

Meanwhile, the leader of the One South Africa Movement Musi Maimane has reiterated his call for South Africans not to send their children to school in protest of the government’s decision to reopen schools. Maimane continues his campaign for school gates to shut in the wake of rising COVID 19 infections after his initial attempts were thwarted by the courts.

The WHO was clear when they said; “If we suppress the virus in our society, in our communities THEN our schools can open”

Mr president @CyrilRamaphosa it’s not too late to do the right thing.

Let’s make a workable plan for the matrics, redesign the curriculum and #closeschools pic.twitter.com/keJcIhLPZl

— Mmusi Maimane (@MmusiMaimane) July 14, 2020