As the Budget speech is set to be delivered this week, the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) in KwaZulu-Natal has dismissed the claim that 19 000 teaching posts are at risk, saying the pronouncement is being made to pressure the public into accepting a VAT increase.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who is expected to deliver the Budget speech on March 12, recently highlighted the financial strain on critical public services, including education.

The financial strain has been exacerbated by the rejection of a proposed 2% VAT increase by political parties that make up the Government of National Unity (GNU) last month. While Godongwana was set to deliver the Budget in February, he was prevented from doing so when parties rejected the 2% VAT increase. It is understood that the Treasury is adamant that a VAT increase of at least 0.5% of a percentage point is needed.

Recently Godongwana has said: “We have had challenges in funding frontline services, health, education, and so on."

He also noted a broader financial crisis across government departments, stating, “As we speak, there is the threat of losing 19 000 teachers in KZN.”

Sadtu in KZN has dismissed Godongwana's assertion describing it an an attempt to force the public to accept a VAT increase.

Caluza questioned the accuracy of the figures presented by the minister.

“Now, the 19 000 jobs that are at risk are too much. We do not know where the minister took that number, but it is an exaggeration. If there was a platform, the minister should come and tell us where he got that number.”

Caluza argued that the claim was being used to push for the controversial VAT increase.

“There can't be 19 000 job losses in KZN when there is already a shortage. We think this is done intentionally to make people accept the 2% VAT increase,” she said. “Already, unemployment is high, and the VAT increase will affect everyone, including the unemployed. So they must not use teachers’ posts to pressure people into agreeing to the VAT increase.”

The KZN Department of Education has sought to clarify the situation, stating that the minister was merely presenting a worst-case scenario.

“I think the minister was presenting a scenario should the department not get the funding it is requesting,” said the department’s media liaison officer, Mlu Mtshali.

“There is no immediate threat of job cuts. I think the minister took the point very well, and we trust that we will be adequately accommodated in the Budget.”

The National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) has also downplayed fears of immediate retrenchments.

“The department has not indicated that we will lose 19 000 posts, but the department cannot afford these posts,” said Naptosa’s Thirona Moodley.The DA in KZN yesterday criticised the provincial government, blaming mismanagement and wasteful expenditure for the crisis.

“The Democratic Alliance is disturbed by reports of 19 000 teaching posts being potentially cut in the province due to budget constraints,” said DA provincial spokesperson on education Sakhile Mngadi.

Mngadi attributed the crisis to the former ANC government’s fiscal negligence. “The looming crisis, announced earlier this week by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, has placed KwaZulu-Natal’s entire education system at risk and is a direct consequence of the former ANC government's fiscal mismanagement and misplaced priorities,” Mngadi said.

THE MERCURY