Even more madness from selfish Sadtu

IT is difficult not to conclude from Cosatu’s demands for corruption charges against former deputy president Jacob Zuma to be dropped, that there is something decidedly deficient in their understanding of the Rule of Law and separation of powers. Interestingly, Cosatu’s affiliate, the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) has now also begun to mimic Cosatu by calling for charges against two of its officials in Mandela Bay to be squashed.

From this, it is evident that rather than striving to ensure there is no return to the often-warped judicial process of the apartheid era, Cosatu and Sadtu would have us embrace a situation where executive interference is accepted.

While it is possible to place Cosatu’s demands within the broader context of the political controversy surrounding the issue of the succession, the same cannot be said of Sadtu. Their members face charges of assault on the police and public violence – which charges the union wants dropped if there is not to be further disruption at schools.

Sadtu is engaged in a dispute with the provincial education department and has shown it is willing to use any weapon in pursuit of its goals – even jeopardising the future of the children for whose welfare its members are responsible.

It is clearly of little concern to Sadtu whether children fail their examinations any more than whether the Rule of Law and the separation of powers are simply jettisoned. Equally, it would appear that the suffering and sacrifice of those who fought to bring an end to apartheid and establish a non-racial democracy is of scant significance.

This cannot be allowed to continue.

It is, firstly, time that teaching was declared an essential service, thereby ending the selfish actions of those who do not give a jot for the future of this country’s children.

Secondly, time has come for Sadtu members who do not share the opinions of the leadership to disassociate themselves publicly so as to expose and isolate those who show such cavalier disregard for the principles that underpin our democracy.

Muster those municipal police

IT’S quite clear that Nelson Mandela Bay is sadly under-policed – witness the unruly Heritage Day scenes at the weekend.

Crime remains one of the most serious factors working against Port Elizabeth’s ongoing campaign to project a positive image and to lure visitors – especially during the busy summer period when there have been some unpleasant incidents of crowd unruliness and crime.

Visible policing is the best deterrent to lawless elements and a good presence of municipal police augmenting the services of the established forces of law and order would provide the sense of security in which visitors and residents would feel secure while enjoying the beachfront, the shops on Govan Mbeki Avenue and the other amenities the city has to offer. It’s a pity Nelson Mandela Bay has taken so long to get the municipal police project organised.

Thanks to the current dispute, we are probably too late to have our ducks in a row before the summer season and the influx of visitors.

We need a force which will be visible day and night in popular tourism areas and in places where young people gather, such as the clubland on the Hill and in the city centre.

Ensuring that our people and our visitors can have fun in safety – and be able to get help when it’s needed – would send a reassuring message, not only to tourists but also to all the people of our Bay.