The Premier was at a meeting when teachers represented by Sadtu arrived, demanding that he replies to a memorandum they had sent earlier.
Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza has instructed that Ehlanzeni district boss Pat Zwane be removed from his position and return to the one he held previously.
Mabuza gave the instruction on Friday morning when teachers represented by the South African Teachers Democratic Union stormed in at the Casa do Sol Hotel in Hazyview, interrupting a provincial cabinet Lekgotla he was busy chairing.
The teachers union in the Hlanzeni region of Mpumalanga were calling for the removal of Zwane from the position of director of the education department in the region, saying that Zwane is “ignorant” and fails to consult them when making decisions.
Sadtu regional secretary Anuel Chauke said on 31 January 2017 they gave MEC Regina Mhaule eight days to respond but Mhaule didn’t and “now we feel Mhaule was undermining the union”.
“So we decided to go to uBaba today and we are happy with the outcomes of the our march,” Chauke said.
He said Zwane, who was previously a TVET college director in the same region, was “parachuted” last year June to replace now provincial chief director Mfana Lushaba.
Mabuza’s spokesman Zibonele Mncwango said the Premier managed to find time “during his busy schedule” to address the grievances of the members of Ehlanzeni Sadtu.
“The teachers complained to the Premier about their Ehlanzeni district director that he was ill-treating them and demanded for his removal,” he said.
He said Mhaule, the education MEC who was also part of the Lekotla, “explained to the Premier that due to the moratorium in employing new employees in the province, and that since the district had no manager for a very long time, a decision was taken to [take] one of the directors from another directorate through the rationalisation process.
“The Premier has instructed that the director be replaced and that Zwane should return back to his original position.
He further called on the teachers to go back to the classes to do their work,” Mncwango said.
(edited by MLM)
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