Dudula Movement pickets for recognition of local teachers

Schoonoord

The Operation Dudula Movement in Sekhukhune District, has since Wednesday 11 January, staged a number of picketing to the Department of Education Sekhukhune District offices in Schoonoord outside Jane Furse and proceeded to protest at local schools after schools reopening day on 11 January, to prevent foreign educators from starting with their teaching duties.

The movement is demanding the Department of Education to prioritize hiring local teachers instead of teachers coming from foreign countries. The move is part of Operation Dudula Schools’ Programme, currently taking place throughout the country.

Davis Magolego, Dudula Movement Convener in Limpopo, said they have taken the move following the high unemployment rate outcries faced by South African teachers, whereas, immigrants were appointed as teachers in South African public and private schools.

“Throughout our engagements at the district offices and schools, we have partnered with qualified deserving teachers who are seeking employment in both public and private schools,” he said.

Magolego said the movement is also monitoring the placement of new learners and instructing the schools to give first preference to pupils whose parents are South African citizens.

“It is common knowledge that throughout the month of January, deserving South African children would be struggling with school placement, which would lead to loss of study time for the 2023 academic year. Qualified and deserving South African teachers remain unemployed, despite high demand for teachers in both private and public schools,” explained Magolego.

He said the schools’ programme will continue throughout the whole month of January and the movement will ensure that foreign teachers are removed and replaced with locals.

“We will also be ensuring that all learners whose parents are South African citizens, are placed at schools that are closer and convenient to their families,” he said.

Furthermore, Magolego said the movement is busy engaging with traditional leaders, with aims of protecting communities with custodians of the land.

“We approached community leaders because we recognize and regard them as legitimate leaders of our societies. We believe they have responsibility to protect their own people and they will never allow this country to be taken by foreigners again, as a mistake was done in 1652 when foreigners from Europe landed at Cape and until they took control of our country, of which still now it belongs to them along with all minerals of this country,” he said.

Magolego indicated that they are concerned that foreigners sell counterfeit products to fund terrorists groups in the expenses of South African citizens.

“We are aware of certain group of South African businessmen based in Jane Furse who are protecting foreign nationals in the expenses of South Africans and we will deal with the situation,” he said.