INTRODUCTION

Protocol

The Minister of Education, the Honourable Ms Naledi Pandor, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, the Honourable Prof Mayetula, the Honourable Members of Parliament of the various political parties present in the Portfolio Committee, other distinguished guests and the CITIZENS of the Republic of South Africa.

I am, Mr M Govender, the General Secretary and, in terms of the PFMA, the Accounting Officer of the Education Labour Relations Council.

I am accompanied by Mr Jeff Moshakga the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Fikile Hugo of SADTU, Mr Cecil Scorgie of NAPTOSA, Mr Piet Delport of SAOU and Mr Bongani Mpungose of NATU.

Introduction

It gives me pleasure as the Accounting Officer of the Education Labour Relations Council, to present to you the Annual Report for the 2004/2005 financial years.

The ELRC is extremely proud that it has received an unqualified report from the Auditor General. This serves as a clear indication that the ELRC strives towards administrative excellence and accountability at all levels of delivery.

SERVICE DELIVERY

The ELRC has, over the past 11 years, contributed significantly towards the development and delivery of quality public education.

The core business of the ELRC is to promote the maintenance of labour peace in public education. A process of dispute prevention and resolution achieves this goal. The ELRC also provides for negotiations and consultations both nationally and provincially. Negotiations and collective bargaining, on matters of mutual interest, is facilitated between the parties to the council, with a view to reaching collective agreements.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Dispute Resolution Services is the core function of the Education Labour Relations Council. This is expressed in Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the ELRC, which sets out the objectives of the Council. These are, inter alia, to maintain and promote labour peace, to prevent and resolve labour disputes, to perform dispute resolution functions and to conclude and enforce collective agreements

In the year 2004/5, a total number of 671 disputes were referred to the Council. Of those that were referred, 467 were successfully dealt with through conciliation/arbitration. 160 cases are still being processed, whereas the rest where either withdrawn, not proceeded with or removed due to lack of jurisdiction.

3.1 Number Of Disputes Per Province

According to statistics on the number of disputes registered per province, KwaZulu-Natal tops the list, followed by Western Cape.

3.2 Case Load Per Issue

In terms of disputes statistics per issue in the year 2004/2005,almost 60% of disputes referred were about unfair labour practice (promotion, demotion, benefits, suspension and training) followed by dismissals with 24%

NEGOTIATIONS

Through the process of negotiations, the following NATIONAL Collective Agreements have been concluded resulting in major changes in the lives of educators in the public education.

Collective Agreement 1 of 2004

Collective Agreement 1 of 2005

Collective Agreement 2 of 2005

Collective Agreement 3 of 2005

Collective Agreement 4 of 2005

Collective Agreement 5 of 2005

FINANCES

Levies

The total levies collected this financial year amounted to R13.5m as compared to R15.6m the previous year. The decrease of R2m is the result of the decrease in levies per educator that came into effect in the middle of the previous financial year. The current levies received cannot sustain the ELRC for a long time hence the urgency to review the levies per educator for the next financial year. This has been brought to the attention of the Executive Authority.

Revenue

The amount of revenue disclosed in the annual financial statements is R19 842 302 (2004: R17 386 963). An amount of R6.3 million was transferred during the year from the reserves to meet the budgetary requirements.

Operating Surplus

The amount of operating surplus is R3 752 780 (2004: R (205 431). The transfer from the reserves absorbed what would have been a major deficit had the transfer not been effected. This is also as a result of the postponement of some capital expenditure to the next financial year. The surplus will be transferred back to the capital reserves.

RESEARCH

During this financial year meaningful research concerning "Determinants of supply and Demand"; "Post Provisioning Norms" and "Educator Workloads" has been initiated.

The outcomes of this research will serve to inform and guide stakeholders on the necessary action that needs to be taken to enhance the delivery of quality education. The research that has been conducted is not exhaustive in itself.

There still exists a need to consciously address issues concerning the delivery of quality education and the factors, which influence the same.

CONCLUSION

The ELRC reaffirms its commitment to ensuring harmonious and productive relations between the parties to the council. In the spirit of "Opening the Doors of Culture and Learning to All" and giving life to the ideals of the Freedom Charter, the ELRC commits itself to continually trying to improve on its service delivery in facilitating the issues of access and the delivery of quality education.