Mr Speaker, in the past year the KwaZulu-Natal department of education, under the leadership of MEC Senzo Mchunu, engaged in a restructuring process consisting of the restructuring of employees in service centres. However, the current process is flawed. The terms and conditions of service are being amended and employees are being coerced into moving from one post to another. This is a gross violation of people's rights and there is a general state of dissatisfaction among employees at the head office service centre and district offices. What is happening is unlawful and must be corrected with immediate effect. Amending employees' terms and conditions of service requires a collective agreement by the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council and Sectoral Council.
The MF is extremely concerned, given the absence of such a collective agreement. Will the hon Minister explain why employees' terms and conditions of service are being amended outside the provisions of the Labour Relations Act and the Bargaining Council? The MF requests the hon Minister's intervention to stop this process of restructuring and to direct it to the Bargaining Council so that there will be harmony and consensus. This would enhance the quality and raise the levels of service delivery and good governance within the department of education in KwaZulu-Natal.