• Tweet

Schools in Kagiso on the West Rand were deserted because teachers said they would return to school today.

A teacher who did not want to be named said Sadtu had decided that teaching would resume today to give their members time to "demobilise".

"Usually, when a strike begins we mobilise teachers ... and that takes time. Demobilising also takes time. We did not go to school today (yesterday) and we are not even aware learners were at school," said the teacher.

He said teachers would also work during the September holidays as part of a recovery plan to make up for time lost during the strike.

Pupils were forced to go back home because their teachers did not report for duty. Some loitered in the streets and played soccer.

"We heard on the news that the strike had been suspended and got ready for school. We were shocked when we did not find any teachers (at school)," said a pupil at Mosupatsela High School.

In KwaZulu-Natal, most public schools remained closed. At Sbonelo High School in KwaMashu, there were about five Grade 12 pupils who were doing group studies.

Sadtu spokesperson Nomusa Cembi said "normal" teaching would resume today. She said demobilisation - which involved leaders reporting back to branches on the strike and negotiations - was in progress.

"It takes time for information to trickle down to all the members," Cembi said.

The National Teachers Union (Natu) said their members heeded the call to return to work. "At some schools, teachers were there. Perhaps pupils presumed that serious work would begin on Wednesday (today)," said Natu deputy president Allen Thompson.

Gauteng education department spokesperson Charles Phahlane said: "We hope that school will be back to normal today. We will announce plans for the preliminary examinations and a recovery plan by the end of the week."