Analysts have sided with Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, saying she has a point in resisting unions’ call for schools to be closed in the light of Covid-19. Motshekga is not backing down in either her back-to-school campaign or against the unions – SA Democratic Teachers Union , National Professional Teachers Organisation of SA and National Teachers Union – pressuring her to close all schools until after the virus peak.
Instead, she flexed her muscles, warning should unions try to disrupt the schooling programme, she won’t hesitate to use law enforcement agencies against the perpetrators. Observers saw this as her opportunity to be seen to be wielding power over Sadtu in particular, which had been a “bully” with never-ending protest actions that often brought schooling to a halt. At least three analysts said Motshekga was right to insist schools should not close.
“If those who say schools must shut down want to defy the scientists’ view that we are going to live with Covid-19 for a long time, they must not come back later to say they are changing their minds because I doubt if they have processed the implications of their call,” Teffo said.Prof Andre Duvenhage from North West University Potchefstroom campus said the feud between Motshekga and Sadtu was another factor. There may be a political agenda to destabilise education, he claimed.