Despite the unions’ calls to their affiliates, the Department of Education has ordered the SMTs to be at their workplace on Monday, 11 May 2020.
South African Democratic Teacher’s Union, as well as Professional Educators Union, released the statements on Friday 08 May telling their affiliates not to go back to work (schools) since the department has not met the requirements for safety.
The department of Education has since sent out a circular dated 09 May 2020, which is instructing all those who should go back to work as per minister Angie Motshekga’s call to report for duty on Monday.
Schools were closed abruptly on Wednesday the 18th March following the outbreak of the Corona Virus with the first case being reported in KwaZulu-Natal. President Cyril Ramaphosa then ordered the closing of schools in fear of the spreading of the virus.
South Africa is sitting on 9420 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections and 186 deaths.
