A CARING COUNCIL

 

ELRC PARTIES ACTING JOINTLY AND AS ONE – SPEAKING OUT AGAINST XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS

 

     Midrand Camp

This international image of South Africa has become tarnished by recent violent attacks across the country on foreign nationals. The Education Sector condemned these xenophobic attacks and felt obliged to support actions addressing these violent attacks.

The Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) on behalf of the seven teacher unions; CTPA, NAPTOSA, NATU, PEU, PSA, SADTU and SAOU, who all donated R10 000 each, a total of R70 000, together with the Department of Education, demonstrated their commitment by donating the money to the ‘Gift of the Givers Foundation’ who will administer these funds in support of those affected by these attacks.

 

   

 

Mr Jeff Moshakga from the ELRC hands over the R70 000 to the Gift of the Givers Foundation on behalf of all the parties to Council

 

The education sector not only acknowledges the important role foreign teachers play in rural areas in particular and the need to ensure access to education for all children, but also the role it needs to play in social integration by bringing learners of all backgrounds together. It is further envisaged that a curriculum that contains the rights afforded by the constitution plays an important role in education in order to promote diversity.

 

Government has taken a firm stance and said that it condemns these attacks. It will do everything within the law to ensure safety of all citizens and foreign nationals irrespective of their status. It has set up an Inter-departmental Task Team to investigate all the possible causes of the attacks on foreign nationals and to make recommendations about actions to be taken in order to prevent the recurrence of this negative tendency.

 

This task team will be convened by the Department of Home Affairs and will include the Department of Education and various other state organs.

 

Education Minister, Naledi Pandor said in a statement addressed to the Ministry of Education that the values of our Constitution reflect the intentions of the Freedom Charter, that ‘South Africa belongs to all who live in it’. She said that over the past few days, schools and school communities have provided humanitarian support to those whose lives have been disrupted or destroyed by the violence.

 

It is with the spirit of Ubuntu in mind that the role players within the education sector pledges their support for the core values of tolerance, common human understanding and the fundamental that all human beings have a right to exist in peace and harmony.