SOPA: Pressure mounts on Winde to provide plan on teacher job cuts

JOHANNESBURG - There have been mounting calls for Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, to provide a plan on how to reinstate the lost teaching posts in the province.

At the beginning of the year, the Western Cape government laid off about 2,400 teachers over budget constraints.

Education funding is expected to feature on Wednesday when Winde gives the first State of the Province Address (SOPA) for the seventh administration.

Leader of the official opposition party in the Western Cape Khalid Sayed said the ANC wants to hear actionable plans from the premier.

READ: WCED to open 477 teaching posts for new schools

"Because ever since the start of this administration and during the last administration, not much has changed on the ground regarding the daily realities facing our people. Crime has increased, and teachers continue to lose their jobs."

Chairperson for Equal Education, Sindisa Monakali, said the organisation wants to see the provincial government’s budget prioritise education.

"We are saying no budget cuts and austerity measures to budgets because they are affecting the black and working class."

Ahead of the SOPA, some political parties, teacher unions and civic organisations are planning to stage a picket outside the venue calling for an end to job cuts in the sector.