The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) is scheduled to lead a national protest in Pretoria today, Wednesday, 23 April 2025, to oppose austerity measures affecting public education. The march will head to the offices of National Treasury, the Department of Basic Education, and the Department of Higher Education and Training.
According to SADTU, persistent budget cuts are undermining the quality of education and threatening the future of public schooling in South Africa.
“We cannot stand by while funding for public education continues to shrink,” said SADTU General Secretary Dr. Mugwena Maluleke. “These austerity measures are not just numbers on a spreadsheet—they affect classrooms, teachers, and most importantly, our learners.”
The union warned that reduced state funding is paving the way for the privatisation of education, which it says will widen inequality and limit access to quality schooling for the majority.
The protest forms part of a global campaign under the theme “Go Public! Fund Education,” led by Education International, an international federation of teachers’ unions.
SADTU also plans to use the march to demand stronger action from government to tackle corruption, recover lost funds through illicit financial flows, and hold tax-evading multinational corporations accountable.
“We believe that if government plugs the leaks in the system—corruption, tax evasion, and financial mismanagement—we can redirect those resources to strengthen our public education,” said Maluleke.
The union is calling on parents, civil society organisations, and all progressive forces to join the march and show solidarity.
“This is not just SADTU’s fight,” Maluleke added. “It’s a fight for every child in South Africa to access quality, well-funded public education.”
