“No Racism At FET” - Principal

LEPHALALE - The South African Democratic Teacher’s Union (SADTU) took to the streets of Lephalale last Thursday to protest what they call “the unjust treatment of lecturers and support staff at the FET College in Lephalale. According to a memorandum handed to the campus manager, Rina van Jaasveld, SADTU demands the immediate resignation of acting principal, Annamie van Vuuren, who they believe promotes racial discrimination at the college.
Northern News spoke to Van Vuuren on Tuesday, who denied any allegations of racism at the College. “We are working hard to promote good relations between staff members of all races. The accusation that white staff members are paid more than black staff members is false. All salaries are determined strictly according to departmental salary scales.”
SADTU also demands “the immediate permanent appointment of temporary black staff like their white counterparts”. Van Vuuren explains that procedures are strictly followed in the appointment of any permanent staff member, and these procedures are the same for everyone. “Some of our temporary staff members, both black and white, do not have the required qualifications to qualify for permanent positions. I cannot bend the rules to comply with SADTU’s demands; we have to do things according to regulations set out and / or approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training.”
Van Vuuren is also worried that the protest action by SADTU at FET colleges throughout the province is contributing towards destabilising the FET College sector and promoting tension at campuses. “Ironically, our white staff members, who are paying members of SADTU, were uninformed about the march and were denied the option to attend either the meetings or the march. It seems that SADTU is playing a political game which will not benefit FET students in Limpopo.”