Some schools in Swaziland (eSwatini) began to reopen
from coronavirus lockdown on Monday (6 July 2020) amid fears that the virus has
still to reach its peak.
The entire
Swazi Cabinet is in isolation after Public Works and Transport Minister
Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe tested positive for the virus.
Prime Minister Ambrose Dlamini announced
a series of relaxations of the lockdown that has been in place since 27
March. More businesses will be able to open and larger gatherings are allowed.
The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) in
a series of statements over the past few days said schools were not ready
to reopen and measures to ensure safety of pupils and staff were not in place.
Other trade unions have also questioned the wisdom of
the government in relaxing restrictions.
As of 5 July there had been 988 people test positive
for coronavirus (COVID-19), according to official Ministry
of Health figures. A week previously that number had been 795. There have
been 13 reported deaths from coronavirus.
SNAT said it had been inspecting schools over two
weeks and concluded they were not safe to reopen. There are 933 schools in
Swaziland and at present the plan is to open classes for Form V pupils who have
examinations to take.
The Sunday Observer
newspaper in Swaziland reported a memo from the Ministry of Education and
Training that stated that 13 schools in the Shiselweni Region were not ready
to reopen. It reported, ‘Minister of Education and Training Lady Howard-Mabuza
confirmed that the 13 schools were not ready to operate under the dangerous
COVID-19 outbreak because they could put their children in danger.’
SNAT leaders also expressed
anger that teachers were required to scrub out classrooms ahead of the
reopening. Secretary
General Sikelela Dlamini said, ‘Those employed on contracts basis have been
threatened with non-renewal of contracts, if they do not take the instructions
from their supervisors to clean the surfaces of their schools.
‘Teachers have been forced by the government to go
work even though the level of preparedness is so low. The Minister of Education
has threated teachers with no work no pay, therefore teachers have no
alternative but to risk their lives.’
Separately, Sikelela Dlamini said SNAT would seek an
urgent high court order on Monday (6 July) to halt the reopening of
schools.
Meanwhile, other trade unions in Swaziland criticised the relaxation of
the lockdown. The National Public Service and Allied Workers Union (NAPSAWU) Secretary
General Thulani Hlatshwayo said it put public
transport operators at risk.
Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union President Bheki Mamba said the health
service could not cope with the current number of cases. He told the Sunday Observer,
‘You cannot relax and allow gathering of 100 people when new infections are on
the rise and there are no medical supplies, personal protective equipment,
human resources and COVID -19 supplies including test kits. Now they are
changing the case definition and they say we must only test patients showing
symptoms and leave out asymptomatic people and contacts of COVID-19 patients.’
See also
Coronavirus
cases in Swaziland continue to rise despite three-month partial lockdown
Swaziland
teachers say Govt. plan to reopen schools from coronavirus lockdown unsafe
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