Cape Town - In celebration of World Teacher's Day, members of Build One South Africa (Bosa), with parents and pupils from John Ramsey High School, demonstrated outside the Legislature against the planned dismissal of over 2400 teachers in January 2025.
The protest, which drew significant attention, featured demonstrators holding placards with messages such as, “Where are the funds?” and “No to cutting teacher jobs”.
Many involved expressed their belief that the government should rather cut costs associated with ministerial positions and redirect those funds towards educational support.
Bosa leader and former educator Mmusi Maimane spoke passionately about the impact of large class sizes on learning. He commented on the challenges faced by teachers, particularly in underfunded schools.
“If you imperil your education system, you cripple the future of the country in general,” he said.
“If you fail to increase the budget for teachers, those who are going to be most affected are poor children because it is in poor schools where you need to increase classroom sizes.”
Maimane stressed the urgency of fighting for increased funding for education, highlighting the disparity between the treatment of politicians and the needs of students in underprivileged communities.
He challenged the government’s priorities, questioning why funds are allocated for VIP protection and ministerial perks while the education sector suffers.
MEC for Education, David Maynier, acknowledged the protest and encouraged demonstrators to channel their grievances towards the national government.
He explained that the national government's decision not to fully fund the public sector wage agreement has forced provincial education departments to make difficult choices.
"In the Western Cape, we decided to protect vital learner support programmes that overwhelmingly support children in poorer communities, such as school feeding, learner transport, and funding for our schools’ daily expenses," he stated.
Maynier said the decision to reduce teaching posts was not made lightly and that all provinces face tough choices over educational funding.
The protest also drew criticism from the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).
“At this stage, we can't afford for our schools to lose more teachers,” said Cosatu Provincial Secretary Malvern de Bruyn.
“Our matric results have come down, and we see classroom sizes have grown to 50-60 learners. This decision will only exacerbate the problem”
Among the protesters was William Plaatjies, an aspiring educator and matric learner from John Ramsey High.
“What is going to happen after I complete my studies in four years? Will there be employment for me or will my education be a waste of time?"
Angeline Scheepers, a parent and member of the John Ramsey School Governing Body, said: “Our classrooms are already overpopulated, and our teachers are under strain. If more jobs are cut, it will mean more learners per class, and how are we going to handle that?”
She said politicians, whose children often went to private schools, were out of touch with reality.
Bosa deputy leader Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster added her voice to the discontent, saying: “We already have overcrowding in classrooms and qualified teachers who are unemployed and waiting to serve the country.
“There is already a lot of strain on teachers in the education system, and this ultimately affects the learners.”
The ongoing protests reflect a growing frustration among educators, parents, and students who are united in their demand for better funding and support for education.
As the battle against teacher cuts continues, advocates are determined to ensure that the voices of those affected are heard and that the future of education in South Africa is safeguarded.