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The ill-advised decision by the South African Democratic Union (SADTU) to withdraw its members from 30 schools in the Eldorado Park area is ill-advised and undermines the rights of learners. It is clear that SADTU does not care about education, learners and the future of the country.

This crisis, which has the potential of collapsing the teaching year, requires Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyazi Lesufi, to withdraw from his international engagements, return to South Africa and immediately attend to this escalating fiasco. Furthermore, the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, must urgently engage with the national leadership of SADTU in order to avert further damage and disruption.

Yesterday, I wrote to the Office of Gauteng MEC for Education, Panyaza Lesufi, to seek an urgent update on what is being done to bring to an end this untenable situation. I have yet to receive a response.

Learners should and must always come first. Learners should not become collateral damage in the ongoing fracas between teachers, parents and other stakeholders.

Anybody who undermines the right to education is an enemy of the youth and the project of building a better South Africa. The DA will always work towards ensuring that the right to education is upheld and protected.

Issued by DA