With open arms the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) welcomes Minister Naledi Pandor’s announcement on, Friday 17 May 2019, that a special inquiry into varsity sex offences against staff and students is being launched.
“The Policy Framework announced by the Minister for Higher Education and Training is indeed a major progressive step forward in eradicating the culture of gender-based harassment and violence in our lecture halls and campuses,” said Ms Vuyo Mazwi, NTEU’s NEC member for Social Justice. “Workers in particular must feel that they are in safe environments to work in. Those who seek to dehumanise others through acts of sexual harassment must know their days are numbered. NTEU won’t stand for it and we fully support the initiative by the Minister.” Mazwi added.
NTEU General Secretary, Grant Abbott, further highlighted that the Union’s Policy Document on Sexual Harassment adopted at its 2011 National Congress equally acknowledges that students have the right to learn in an environment free from sex-based harassment. “As NTEU we therefore urge all employees on all campuses to help create such a safe, learning-conducive environment.” Abbott advised.
NTEU is a politically non-aligned trade union organizing exclusively in the Higher Education sector and is aligned to FEDUSA, the largest politically non-aligned trade union federation in South Africa.