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Truck driver fires on rowdy teachers

27/06/2012 00:00:00 KHULEKANI NENE

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SITEKI - Drama unfolded during a march by teachers when a truck driver discharged his gun into the air in an attempt to prevent teachers from stoning his truck.

Siteki teachers were marching to see the Regional Education Officer (REO), Wellington Mdluli, when the driver of a truck that was coming from the Mhlumeni direction refused to give way to the teachers.

This agitated most of the teachers, who then started to stone the truck.

ã€€Fearing for his life, the driver bolted out of the truck, drew a pistol and

fired a warning shot in the air. Upon hearing the piercing sound of the gun, the teachers ran off in different directions.

The driver then ran after some teachers whom he suspected to have stoned his truck, but police officers who had rushed to block the entrance to the REO office returned to find the driver chasing after them.

The police then ordered the driver to drive the truck to the police station where he was advised to open a case of malicious damage to property.

His firearm was checked by the police and it was discovered that he had a valid licence.

The resolution to march to the REO was unanimously taken by the teachers during a meeting held at Lubombo Central Primary School yesterday morning. Teachers wanted to complain to the REO about schools inspectors who were conducting roll-calls in schools in the region.

After that incident, the police riot squad mounted a roadblock near the Build it hardware store, where they prevented the teachers from entering the town centre.

This lasted until lunchtime, when the riot squad left town. Meanwhile, Lubombo Regional Commander, John Lukhele held a brief meeting with the local SNAT branch executive in which he demanded that they hand over the teachers who stoned the truck.

Lukhele further condemned the teachers’ act of stoning the truck. "I really do not understand why teachers stoned the truck because it does not even belong to government. I want the leaders to hand over the teachers who did this, failing which SNAT will be held accountable for the damage," Lukhele said.

SNAT’s Branch Secretary, Musa Sifundza, explained to Lukhele that he was not around when the incident happened and pomised to investigate.

Lukhele, however, insisted that the teachers who stoned the truck must be handed over to him immediately, or alternatively he invited the leadership to his office for talks.

Lukhele then ordered the teachers to disperse, adding that they should call off their march to the REO.

We can’t turn back now, vow teachers

SITEKI - Teachers have vowed to continue with their ‘Waya Waya’ strike action until they get the 4.5 per cent cost of living adjustment.

During a meeting yesterday morning, most teachers supported the continuation of the strike adding that they were prepared for any situation.

Death

"We cannot turn back now; we are heading towards our victory. Even if it calls for death, we are prepared for that," said one of the teachers who attended the meeting.

Another teacher urged teachers to hold fast until they get what they want, adding that teachers should not be intimidated by threats from government.

"The government will not stop threatening us with expulsion and ‘no-work-no-pay’, but we must soldier on," he said.

Teachers further lambasted the Minister of Education and Training, Wilson Ntshangase, for calling upon them to return to class.

"The minister is benefiting from Circular No. 1 of 2010, hence he does not know the situation we are facing. He does not feel the pinch of Value Added Tax (VAT) and the high inflation," alleged a teacher.

Local Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Branch Chairperson Percis Dlamini told teachers that government was deceiving them by saying there is no money.

Dlamini said government should revoke Circular No. 1 of 2010 and use that money to increase teachers’ salaries. Dlamini added that he does not understand why government is refusing to adjust salaries by 4.5 per cent, saying this was a small amount compared to what politicians are getting.

‘Don’t listen to principals, primary teachers union’

SITEKI - Teachers were told not to listen to statements made by the Swaziland Principals Association (SWAPA) and the Swaziland Primary Teachers Union (SPU).

Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Branch Secretary Musa Sifundza said he had noted that teachers were sometimes confused by contradictory statements which are issued by these two organisations.

"I would like to urge teachers not to listen or even look at statements issued by these organisations. They do not have members, hence they have no authority over teachers," he alleged.

Sifundza alleged that SWAPA was an organisation formed by schools, not by principals. He said this organisation was formed to tackle administrative issues which affect principals and not the welfare of teachers.

He further alleged that no principal was ‘a member’ of SWAPA, adding that principals do not pay subscription fees to the organisation.

Turning to the SPU, Sifundza said this union has no members since most teachers are members of SNAT.

Sifundza added that these two organi-sations need to be ‘disciplined’ since they were misleading teachers. "Further steps need to be taken against these two organi-sations which are misleading teachers," he said.

He further labelled the two organ-isations as ‘teenagers’ who have just reached the adolescent stage, adding that they will never surpass SNAT.

Sifundza then announced that SNAT had revived the defunct Swaziland Head Teachers Association (SHA) to replace SWAPA. He then urged all principals to join the new organisation.

Teachers want pupils, parents to join

SITEKI - Teachers have called upon parents and pupils to join them in the strike.

During a meeting yesterday morning, teachers said it was high time parents and pupils took part in the march since they were the ones who were mostly affected by the strike.

"Some people are blaming teachers for resorting to strike but they do not understand that all we want is to force the employer to give us a 4.5 per cent salary adjustment. Since pupils and parents are directly affected by the strike, they should join us so that government can realise the seriousness of the issue," said a teacher.

Other teachers proposed that ‘Operation Vusela’ should be conducted every day up until government agrees to their demand.

‘Operation Vusela’ is the name given to the practice of forcing teachers who are at work to join the strike action.

Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Branch Secretary, Musa Sifundza, told teachers that the resolution to engage in an indefinite stay–away was unanimously taken by teachers at the SNAT Centre, adding that any decision regarding the fate of the protest action should be taken by all the teachers.

Sifundza further warned the teachers against conducting ‘secret’ lessons for classes like Form III and Form V.

He said that the situation in all schools around the country should be made ‘abnormal’ so that government would agree to their demand.

Some teachers wanted to know whether they should continue with ball games and music, since competitions will be staged this coming weekend.

Sifundza said no teacher should attend ball games or music competitions either. "We want to disappoint the sponsors so they can talk to the government to change things and make them normal," he said.