EUSA has learnt through a series of incidents involving the attack of teachers while on duty that these incidents could have been avoided had teachers been in possession of necessary equipment to defend themselves. Teachers across the country have been experiencing attacks by members who are within and outside their school communities. In all these, the hooligans come armed with dangerous weapons which in most cases have resulted in the loss of lives of teachers.
All human beings are entitled to a safe and healthy working environment. This is reflective in Occupational Health and Safety Act (Act 85 of 1993) that was written and passed by parliament to address this matter. Section 8 bears reference. But it is clear that despite a number of attempts by EUSA to engage the DoE on the matter of safety, our attempts have been met with utter arrogance and lack of care for the safety of teachers. This is all despite the loss of many lives as well as continued attacks levelled against teachers.
Teachers can no longer base their safety on the Old men whom the department takes from the street and places them at the gates of schools without any training. These elderly people are mostly those who are pensioners and they are only given knobkerries to prevent knives and guns from entering school premises. A majority of cases where teachers are attacked take place within school premises. The department has done nothing other than issuing statements that endanger teachers more. It is worse that we have now seen the reappointment of Gogo Incompetent Motshekga which to us was clear communication that even our government is happy with the killing of teachers and the collapsing education system.
It is for this reason among many that we have decided to instruct all our members and the general teaching community to take up arms and protect themselves from hooligans that masquerade as learners in schools as well as those members of the community that enter schools to attack teachers. Any teacher who has any tool that can be useful in a situation of self-defence is encouraged to take the tool to work every day. Not anymore shall it happen that teachers sacrifice their lives for a job that replaces them the minute they are dead or hospitalised. Any teacher who needs any advice or assistance must not hesitate to contact EUSA across all provinces.
Issued by the Educators Union of South Africa
Contact: General Secretary
Siphiwe Mpungose
078 051 2577
s.mpungose@eusaunion.co.za
www.eusaunion.co.za F:Educators Union of South Africa