Court orders officials to repay teachers

THE Supreme Court of Appeal has ordered the KwaZulu-Natal department of education to pay over R50-million to 29000 teachers whose salaries were docked after a strike in 2010.

The court upheld the Durban Labour Court's judgment in favour of members of the National Teachers' Union.

The union took the department to court last year after salaries were docked from teachers who were not part of the strike.

The union's deputy president, Allen Thompson, welcomed the ruling.

"All the appeal courts, including the Supreme Court, confirmed the Labour Court's decision and instructed the department to pay for Natu's legal costs as well," he said. - Mhlaba Memela

Senior metro cop dies on duty

EKURHULENI metro police spokesman Superintendent Mveli Nhlapo was killed after being electrocuted at the Kempton Park railway station yesterday morning.

According to Superintendent Vusi Mabanga, another spokesman for the metro police, Nhlapo chased after a number of striking Post Office workers who had held commuters hostage on a train from Tembisa at around 10am.

"When they saw police and metro police at the station, they tried to escape. Our officer ran after them and unfortunately he was electrocuted." - Schalk Mouton

Rapists jailed eight years after the crime

TWO men have each been sentenced to 15 years in jail by the Moretele Magistrate's Court eight years after they raped a girl, Mpumalanga police said yesterday.

Steven Ramalepa and Paris Morolo were jailed on Wednesday, Sergeant Hastings Chaane said.

The pair, both aged 28, were arrested on March 29 2004, a day after they raped the girl in Marapyane village. She was 14 at the time. - Sapa

Striking teachers 'violate pupils' rights'

STRIKING teachers in the Eastern Cape were violating children's rights to education and there would be consequences, the province's education superintendent-general said yesterday.

"Principals are reminded of their responsibilities in the event of any form of industrial action, and will be required to provide the relevant information," Modidima Mannya said.

"Should they fail to provide such information, they will be held accountable in terms of section 45 of the Public Finance Management Act and will face charges of misconduct."

Teachers in at least five centres in the province were protesting against long hours and a heavy workload caused by the dismissal of temporary teachers.

The SA Democratic Teachers' Union said the protest was over issues that had been unresolved for several years. It wanted better working conditions to allow its members to provide the best education possible and improve pass rates. - Sapa