Of Heatwaves and Feeling the Heat
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| Basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube |
Starting with Mashatile, the country’s No.2 collapsed while addressing the N’wamitwa Day celebrations in Tzaneen on Saturday (September 14), with his inner circle blaming the heatwave in the area for the scare.
Mashatile, however, had told the Ronnie Mamoepa annual lecture held at the Tshwane University of Technology on Friday (September 13) that he had been feeling unwell since Thursday morning and suspected food poisoning. [Watch from 1:20:10 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eor2VPTzJPY ]
Now, the mention of poisoning in our country's body politic, be it any kind of poisoning, is a sure way to set the tounges wagging, especially from conspiracy theorists, political actors, and hangers on alike.
Some have already dug up old files about how former president Jacob Zuma and erstwhile deputy president David Mabuza had to be shipped to Putin's Russia to be treated for alleged poisoning. Without dwelling much on this subject, I think it's safe to take Mashatile at his word than to cause unnecessary alarm.
Regarding the government of national unity (GNU) - which DA federal council chair Helen Zille insists is an ANC/DA coalition – Gwarube received much praise when she, soon after her appointment into cabinet, stressed and pointed out that she’s not a DA minister and was there to serve the country as a whole.
From the onset, however, Gwarube received a hostile reception from the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), the largest teachers’ union in the country, which described her appointment as disappointing. A July 2 statement the union subsequently issued painted the minister as an unwelcome outsider.
“Having acknowledged that we have no powers to dictate to the president whom to appoint, but Siviwe Gwarube of the DA is an affront to Sadtu. The DA has always made Sadtu its enemy number one,” Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said.
She has launched the #MyTeacher campaign on X/Twitter which seeks to celebrate and “appreciate educators who go beyond the call of duty and make real impact in the lives of others”.
“There are so many passionate educators; who work tirelessly in difficult environments. But they show up. And they change lives. Nominate one such educator. And they could be recognized for their service at the National Teaching Awards [on October 5]. Tag us on your nominations with #MyTeacher Details on the DBE [X/Twitter] page.”
Despite the pressure she might be getting from occupying the hot seat, Gwarube must step up and discharge her duties with dogged determination, as the public expects of her, and stop playing politics. And as the old adage goes, if you can't stand the heat ...
From the onset, however, Gwarube received a hostile reception from the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), the largest teachers’ union in the country, which described her appointment as disappointing. A July 2 statement the union subsequently issued painted the minister as an unwelcome outsider.
“Having acknowledged that we have no powers to dictate to the president whom to appoint, but Siviwe Gwarube of the DA is an affront to Sadtu. The DA has always made Sadtu its enemy number one,” Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said.
Cosatu national spokesperson Zanele Sabela doubled down, saying: “Minister Gwarube should remember that elections are over, her party is now part of the Government of National Unity, [she must] respect the laws adopted by parliament, get on with addressing the challenges facing teachers and learners at our schools and leave ideological distractions.”
For context, Sabela was responding to calls by the DA that President Cyril Ramaphosa must not sign the Bela Bill – which he promulgated on September 13 – but instead send it back to parliament for amendments.
Among others, the legislation extends compulsory schooling by a year to include grade R.
While the bill was signed into law, Ramaphosa delayed the implementation date for clauses 4 and 5 by three months. The clauses propose stripping school governing bodies of their power to determine admission and language policies, and give provincial heads of education the final say on these issues.
“This [three-month period] will give the parties time to deliberate on these issues and make proposals on how the different views may be accommodated,” Ramaphosa said. “Should the parties not be able to agree on an approach, we will proceed with the implementation of these parts of the bill.”
The DA was opposed to the signing of the bill by the president, with its leader John Steenhuisen saying doing so would violate both the letter and spirit of the GNU. The DA’s hardline position on the bill led to Gwarube being conspicuous by her absence at the signing ceremony held at the Union Buildings last Friday.
Gwarube’s detractors were on full attack mode, with Sadtu calling for her to resign from her R2.6m per annum ministerial gig. Even Ramaphosa, who responds to Cupcake, was peeved off by Gwarube's snub, noting, however, “the minister has been unequivocal in clearly saying, once the president has signed the bill, I am going to implement it. That to me is the bottom line”.
For context, Sabela was responding to calls by the DA that President Cyril Ramaphosa must not sign the Bela Bill – which he promulgated on September 13 – but instead send it back to parliament for amendments.
Among others, the legislation extends compulsory schooling by a year to include grade R.
While the bill was signed into law, Ramaphosa delayed the implementation date for clauses 4 and 5 by three months. The clauses propose stripping school governing bodies of their power to determine admission and language policies, and give provincial heads of education the final say on these issues.
“This [three-month period] will give the parties time to deliberate on these issues and make proposals on how the different views may be accommodated,” Ramaphosa said. “Should the parties not be able to agree on an approach, we will proceed with the implementation of these parts of the bill.”
The DA was opposed to the signing of the bill by the president, with its leader John Steenhuisen saying doing so would violate both the letter and spirit of the GNU. The DA’s hardline position on the bill led to Gwarube being conspicuous by her absence at the signing ceremony held at the Union Buildings last Friday.
Gwarube’s detractors were on full attack mode, with Sadtu calling for her to resign from her R2.6m per annum ministerial gig. Even Ramaphosa, who responds to Cupcake, was peeved off by Gwarube's snub, noting, however, “the minister has been unequivocal in clearly saying, once the president has signed the bill, I am going to implement it. That to me is the bottom line”.
But Ramaphosa was not done: “If the minister ever says she will not implement it, she will be fired — plain and simple. Non-attendance is a matter of concern.” There you have, folks, Ramaphosa was on some Julius Malema attack mode, cryptically telling his wet behind the ears minister: “Here you behave or else you jump!”
Speaking of the EFF leader, Malema went for the jugular saying the president should have “fired that minister there and then”. “How can a minister not go to a place where the president is signing a bill? That is bringing cabinet into disrepute. The president should have fired that minister there and then.
Speaking of the EFF leader, Malema went for the jugular saying the president should have “fired that minister there and then”. “How can a minister not go to a place where the president is signing a bill? That is bringing cabinet into disrepute. The president should have fired that minister there and then.
"When you are there (in cabinet) you are no longer serving the DA constitution, you are serving the South African constitution,” Malema said during a recent conversation with journalist Clement Manyathela, host of the SABC News programme Face the Nation. [Watch from 58:09 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDUhUNFCdwU ]
“The Bela Bill exposed these people for what they are – a marriage of inconvenience, a DA-led government. It’s not an ANC-led government ... They are going to fight on NHI, they are going to fight on NPA,” Malema, stressing the GNU has failed.
Realising that a lot is at stake, including her cushy job, the ministerial perks, and the enviable R2.6m salary in a country where the minimum wage is R27,58 per hour – in some sectors workers are only paid tips and commissions – Gwarube seems to have extended an olive branch to teachers.
“The Bela Bill exposed these people for what they are – a marriage of inconvenience, a DA-led government. It’s not an ANC-led government ... They are going to fight on NHI, they are going to fight on NPA,” Malema, stressing the GNU has failed.
Realising that a lot is at stake, including her cushy job, the ministerial perks, and the enviable R2.6m salary in a country where the minimum wage is R27,58 per hour – in some sectors workers are only paid tips and commissions – Gwarube seems to have extended an olive branch to teachers.
She has launched the #MyTeacher campaign on X/Twitter which seeks to celebrate and “appreciate educators who go beyond the call of duty and make real impact in the lives of others”.
“There are so many passionate educators; who work tirelessly in difficult environments. But they show up. And they change lives. Nominate one such educator. And they could be recognized for their service at the National Teaching Awards [on October 5]. Tag us on your nominations with #MyTeacher Details on the DBE [X/Twitter] page.”
Despite the pressure she might be getting from occupying the hot seat, Gwarube must step up and discharge her duties with dogged determination, as the public expects of her, and stop playing politics. And as the old adage goes, if you can't stand the heat ...
I support CIC Malema on this one (only on this one, note).Minister Gwarube must go. The President is signing a bill related to your office as Minister and you decide not to be in attendance! That's disrespect.
ReplyDeleteJa nhe?! Eish, at least the president put his foot down and this seems to have rattled the minister a bit!
DeleteBeautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteThanks for engaging!
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