Media Statements

STATEMENT: GOVERNMENT REJECTS ITS OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE WATER, ELECTRICITY AND DECENT TOILETS TO SCHOOLS BY APPEALING #FIXTHENORMS JUDGMENT

#StopTheAppeal #FixOurSchools This morning, the Department of Basic Education (DBE), in partnership with the South African Presidency, the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) launched the Sanitation Appropriation for Education (SAFE) Initiative. Last week, the South African government announced that it will appeal the #FixTheNorms

August 14, 2018

SUBMISSION: EXPROPRIATION MUST SECURE LEARNERS’ ACCESS PUBLIC SCHOOLS ON PRIVATE LAND

There is an important link between current debates around land expropriation, and learners’ right to basic education. This is especially true for the thousands of learners who attend public schools located on privately-owned land. For the sake of these learners it is imperative that urgent progress is made on legislation outlining the circumstances under which

August 2, 2018

STATEMENT: EQUAL EDUCATION JOINS INTERSECTIONAL WOMXN’S MARCH AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

During its third National Congress held last month, Equal Education (EE) delegate members resolved that the movement would show solidarity with various organisations, particularly those that stand to protect and advocate for marginalised voices in society. EE has identified that  #TheTotalShutdown is one such initiative. Despite having broadly resolved to stand in solidarity with and

August 1, 2018

Submission: Education is essential, but not an essential service

23 July 2018 Equal Education submission: Education is essential, but not an essential service On 15 June 2018 the Department of Labour’s Essential Services Committee (ESC) issued a public Notice highlighting the government’s intention to review its list of essential services, under the Labour Relations Act (LRA). Under review are “services rendered by educators and

July 23, 2018

Statement: Victory for EE and SA’s learners as Court orders government must #FixTheNorms

19 July 2018 Equal Education media statement: Victory for Equal Education and South Africa’s learners as Bhisho High Court orders government must #FixTheNorms and #FixOurSchools! Today the Bhisho High Court ruled entirely in Equal Education’s (EE) favour in the #FixTheNorms case, including declaring aspects of the school infrastructure law that allowed government to indefinitely delay

July 19, 2018

Media alert: Judgment tomorrow in EE #FixTheNorms court case

16 July 2018 Equal Education media alert: Judgment tomorrow in #FixTheNorms court case Tomorrow, Tuesday 17 July at 9:30am, judgment will be handed down in Equal Education’s #FixTheNorms case, brought against the Minister of Basic Education. Our case, heard in March this year, seeks to ensure that government properly commit to meeting its own school

July 16, 2018

Statement: Update on Doron Isaacs independent inquiry

12 July 2018 Equal Education media statement: Update on Doron Isaacs independent inquiry On 18 May, Doron Isaacs resigned as Treasurer of Equal Education (EE), and as a member of the movement. Members of EE’s management team submitted a request to EE’s National Council (NC) on 17 May, requesting it to suspend Isaacs, and investigate

July 12, 2018

STATEMENT: EE DEFENDS LEARNERS’ RIGHT TO PEACEFUL PROTEST

12 June 2018 On 16 May, the South African Police Services (SAPS) used live ammunition on protesting learners from Thuto-Kitso Technical School in Fochville. Learners of the school have told Equal Education (EE) Deputy-Head of Gauteng, Kholwani Simelane, that they had been calling for the recruitment of a Technical Studies teacher at the school, since

June 12, 2018