DURBAN, KWAZULU-NATAL — The recent SADTU march in Durban has brought critical attention to the ongoing KwaZulu-Natal education funding crisis, as educators took to the streets to protest severe budget cuts and administrative failures. The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) organized the demonstration to highlight the systemic challenges crippling schools and teachers across the province, ultimately blaming government decisions—specifically those made by the Provincial Finance Department—for undermining the education system.
The march commenced at King Dinizulu Park and proceeded through the streets to the Marine Building. There, union leaders were scheduled to deliver a formal memorandum of demands to the provincial government at noon, calling for immediate interventions to stabilize the learning environment.
Speaking on the frontlines of the protest, educators emphasized that the crisis extends far beyond administrative hurdles, directly impacting the daily realities of classrooms. Priya Govender, a teacher explained that the public education system is currently facing a severe crisis driven by austerity measures, budget cuts, and top-down decisions.
“As an educator, my heart belongs in the classroom, building up young minds and nurturing their confidence,” Govender stated. She noted that while the austerity measures might not directly affect her specific school, the union stands in solid solidarity with colleagues across the province who are bearing the brunt of these funding shortfalls.
The demands of the marching teachers are highly granular, focusing on the urgent need to fill vacant positions and ensure fair compensation. Delisha Thadigadu, a School Governing Body (SGB) employed educator also from Silverdale Primary, highlighted the uncertainty facing qualified staff. She pointed out that critical posts remain unfilled, depriving children of stable classrooms and quality education.
Thadigadu also raised deep concerns regarding the collapse of support systems in special needs schools, which rely heavily on specialized teaching, care, and resources for children with disabilities. “We cannot allow these schools to collapse or allow vulnerable learners to be left behind,” she urged, calling on the Department of Education to fill all vacant posts to ensure every child receives the education they deserve.
Providing a broader overview of the union’s grievances, SADTU KwaZulu-Natal Secretary Nomarashiya Caluza detailed the severe impact of the non-payment of schools and the prolonged non-filling of crucial positions. Caluza revealed that schools are not receiving their “norms and standards”—the basic operational allocations—leaving many institutions unprepared.
Furthermore, Caluza highlighted that substitute educators have not been appointed, and Grade R practitioners remain casualized, failing to receive pay commensurate with their qualifications. She noted a staggering 46% vacancy rate for office managers in some areas, with no clear plan to fill them. The appointment delays by the Ministry of Finance in the province are actively causing the Department of Education to collapse, leaving special schools without essential support staff such as cleaners, care workers, nurses, and drivers.
Despite the massive turnout and the severity of their demands, the union stressed its commitment to responsible protest action. Caluza confirmed that the ongoing Matric exams remain entirely unaffected by the march. With students writing Economics and Mechanical Technology in the morning, and Design in the afternoon, the union has instructed that all members entrusted with invigilation duties remain at their schools. This ensures that learners can write their final exams smoothly and without any disruption while their teachers advocate for the future of the province’s education system.
