Libraries across Nelson Mandela Bay have shut their doors as children line up to complete their homework.
Children from Walmer Township were lined up outside the Walmer Library today hoping to gain access to complete their homework but were denied this basic opportunity.
I have been reliably informed that the dispute that saw all libraries in the Metro closed in July has been revived once again due to the Municipality’s failure to deliver on their commitment to library staff.
In July the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality agreed, after an extended period of library closures, to regrade the positions of library staff. This regrading was, however, not reflected on their pay slips in August and the staff have decided to strike again. This situation cannot continue.
Libraries are a provincial competency and this situation must be taken seriously by Bisho. It is simply unacceptable that while the ANC controls both local and provincial government they cannot seem to sit around a table and find solutions to ensure our libraries are open to our children.
Closing the doors of our libraries closes the doors to opportunities for our children. This situation would not be tolerated in a DA led government as we believe that children are the foundation of our future and that opportunity should be expanded, not contracted. Where the DA governs libraries are well resourced, well staffed and kept open to the public six days a week.
Andrew Whitfield
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