Members of the SADTU union organized a demonstration in Durban, starting their route from King DinuZulu Park to the Durban City Council. The purpose of the march was to demand improved funding for schools and the filling of vacant positions for teaching, administrative, and support staff.
More than a hundred union members gathered at King DinuZulu Park. The march is planned to proceed along Doctor Paxley Kaseme Street (formerly known as West Street). The action takes place against the backdrop of final examinations being taken by Grade 12 students. Drivers were advised to avoid the Central Business District (CBD) while demonstrators moved toward the City Council.
The Provincial Secretary of SADTU in KwaZulu-Natal, Nomarashiya Kaluza, told sundaytribune.co.za that the union's main grievances concern several persistent educational and administrative issues. Although the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (KZN DoE) recently reviewed and rescinded its initial proposal to cut around 4000 teaching posts, Kaluza stated that the provincial demonstration will proceed as planned.
Kaluza emphasized that the protest is directed against budgetary allocations and financial cuts that negatively affect the functioning of schools. The union demands the immediate closure of critical vacancies in the administrative and support staff of public educational institutions. Furthermore, they insist that the KZN DoE address systemic delays in fund distribution and daily operational support for local schools.
She expressed concerns that thousands of teaching positions could be lost despite the constant shortage of teachers in schools across the province. Kaluza explained that schools are struggling to fill vacancies because appointing staff, including temporary teachers, requires approval from the provincial treasury and the Prime Minister's office. According to her, 'these are problems that can easily be avoided, since we all know there are many unemployed teachers who can fill these vacancies.'
Questions were also raised about the financial readiness of schools for the 2027 academic year; Kaluza noted that some educational institutions have not yet received final funding for this year, which could result in schools not being ready to open in 2027. SAPS police and Etkenwini municipal police are monitoring the march. Passengers are advised to expect delays and plan alternative routes for the remainder of the day.
