These claims are false, and there are currently no guidelines for the basic education department to implement such a drastic measure, Sadtu said in a statement.

“The nature of the issue demands that all employers and labour (teachers' unions) come together in that platform created through democracy called the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC). The task team mandated to discuss this matter is only sitting [on Thursday]. It is expected that the task team will have to present its work to the ELRC to finalise the issue,” Sadtu said.

The level of fear and panic surrounding the coronavirus (Covid-19) disease was unprecedented, and misinformation had been a major contributing factor. Sadtu had clearly outlined its position on this matter.

"Sadtu, though not the employer, wishes to inform you that there is currently no tool to guide those affected employees. The only thing available is the list of comorbidities as prescribed by the national health department,” the union said.

Sadtu would soon provide relevant information on the state of readiness of schools to reopen, and would meet departmental officials on Friday to discuss these issues. 

Nirend Singh, principal of Southlands Secondary School in Chatsworth in Durban, said replacing teachers aged 60 and over would be a bad move, given the fact that most principals and senior teachers in his district were in that age group. 

“Most principals in our district are around that age; I don’t see how it is possible to run a school from their homes. It could be a logistical nightmare,” Singh said. 

African News Agency (ANA)