The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo on Thursday said that they were angered by the South African Democratic Teachers Union’s (Sadtu) decision to stage a march and disrupt schooling in the province.

On Wednesday, Sadtu threatened a “total shutdown” of schools in Limpopo should education authorities not heed its demand to fix the education crisis in the province.

But DA Limpopo provincial leader, Jacques Smalle, strongly condemned the decision to disrupt schooling and accused the union of holding pupils ransom.

“The DA believes that the teachers are caretakers and champions of education and they should get maximum support. But grievances should not be aired in such a way that undermines the Constitutional right of a child to an education.”

Smalle said that the march would paralyse the smooth running of schools across the province, and hurt the children who were in desperate need of support from the Limpopo Education Department.

“The DA is in possession of letters sent to parents and guardians that confirm that there will be no schooling today and that they should not bother to send their children to school due to the march,” Smalle said.

“Learners in some schools will be released during midday due to insufficient supervision in the classrooms. Sadtu could have easily scheduled the march to take place in the afternoon, or even on the weekend.”

He said that the DA had accordingly written to the Limpopo Education MEC, Ishmael Kgetjepe, requesting an urgent intervention in this regard and to ensure that no schools were interrupted by union activities on Friday.

“We also urge Sadtu to do the right thing and return back to class. It’s time for you to start thinking of what is in the best interests of our children. The DA will continue to use all mechanisms available to us to raise the numerous problems with Limpopo’s education department, so that every child receives the quality education that they deserve,” said Smalle.