Activists threaten legal action against WCED after consideration to cut teacher posts

CAPE TOWN - The Special Action Committee will be taking the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) to court over its decision to reduce teaching staff from next year.

The committee, which was formed a few months ago, gave Education MEC David Maynier until 17 December 2024 to reconsider the move to cut 2,407 teacher posts.

Committee member Neil Dublin says the decision will largely impact the working class and marginalised communities.

“We have started to reach out to communities, and we have the support of COSATU [Congress of South African Trade Unions] and obviously SADTU [South African Democratic Teachers’ Union] as organised labour cannot really take this challenge on their own.

“They need the full support of all the citizens who are going to be affected and even those who are not going to be affected by the teacher cuts.”  

WCED spokesperson Bronagh Hammond says the department has responded to the committee.

“The reduction in posts will mean that some teachers will not be reappointed after their contracts end. And some permanent teachers will be asked to move to another school where there is a suitable vacancy.”