Mugwena Maluleke, General Secretary of SADTU, said that the union, the largest in the education sector, has signed the agreements that will guarantee the permanent employment of teachers as part of the provision of quality education as a right for children; ensure the re-employment of teachers and protect learners from sexual predators. “These agreements go a long way in ensuring peace at work in the education sector and a safe environment for learners to unmask teachers who sexually harass them,” maluleke said. The judgment of an arbitrator within the meaning of the collective agreement is final and binding and has the same status as an arbitration award under the Labour Relations Act. In addition to the Council`s mandate to preserve peace in the public education sector, these three agreements also aim to respect the vision of the National Development Plan with regard to basic education aimed at improving the conditions of service of educators and within the meaning of Collective Agreement 3 of 2018. to preserve the constitutional rights of the child. Given the current scourge of sexual crimes, particularly against children in our country, this agreement would be essential to ensure that justice is done in cases where educators are accused of child sexual misconduct. This agreement will ensure the implementation of this dual responsibility. The amendments are intended to regulate the re-election of educators after leaving the system and to provide some financial relief, given that the current provision weighs on the country. The agreement will serve as a deterrent to perceived abuses of the system. We hope that this agreement will ensure that cases of sexual misconduct are resolved quickly, as it will streamline the process and provide a one-time stop process through arbitration. Arbitrators with sufficient experience in hearings with minor children as witnesses and victims are appointed to deal with these particular cases.

Intermediaries are also appointed to assist the child`s victims or witnesses to testify. The principle of fairness in the treatment of hearings is fundamental and this agreement ensures that the rule of law is sacrosanct. The purpose of the agreement is to modify the measures for the rehabilitation of educators after suspension of service, as provided for in sections B 8.5.2 and B 8.5.3 of the Personnel Management Measures (PAM). . . .