Deputy Speaker, Cope is appalled at the government's lack of vision and seriousness in the Department of Education because it had run out of ideas to turn around the department. This has rubbed off on the alliance unions leading to what has now become a state of confusionist avatars.
The behaviour of Sadtu has shown total undermining of the rights of the child to be educated. As the Sadtu strike was going on, former model C schools remained unaffected.
South African children, mostly township children in poor areas who already suffer from high teacher absenteeism and sexual harassment in their schools, remain at the receiving end.
We call upon the union federations, who lead a large majority of their members who are from these constituencies, to show maturity and leadership.
Cope has observed the worrying trend which began as far back as Naledi Pandor's leadership. [Interjections.] Together with its alliance partners in the ANC, the union movement has become politicised and has lost the plot.
Out of desperation, Sadtu has resorted to using unsuspecting school children as cannon fodder and human shields ... [Interjections.]
Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: The hon member has no respect for the hon Pandor. He is referring to her as if she is a friend.
Deputy Speaker, on a point of order: We want to submit that it is not a point of order. The ANC should stop disrupting member statements.
Hon member, what do you call members in this House?
Deputy Speaker, hon member.
Hon member, can you just do that to hon Pandor.
Hon Pandor.
Hon member, thank you very much. [Laughter.]
Out of desperation, Sadtu has resorted to using unsuspecting schoolchildren as cannon fodder and human shields to cover for their ineptitude and the blatant politicking. This is how confusionist avatars work.
If Sadtu, like we have discovered - coming out of the tragedy at Marikana, De Doorns, the gold mines - is no longer focused on its core business and instead has made a battleground out of its offices to fight for political recognition and influence, then we are on dangerous ground. [Time expired.]