The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) is the largest trade union for teachers in

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

. It is allied to the

African National Congress The African National Congress (ANC) is a Social democracy, social-democratic political party in Republic of South Africa, South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when ...

and is an affiliate of the

Congress of South African Trade Unions The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is a trade union A trade union (labor union in American English), often simply referred to as a union, is an organization of workers intent on "maintaining or improving the conditions ...

(COSATU).

History

The union was founded in October 1990, when the National Education Union of South Africa merged with the Progressive Teachers' Union, the Mamelodi Teachers' Union, the Progressive Teachers' League, the Western Cape Teachers' Union and the East London Progressive Teachers' Union. In 1992, it affiliated to the

. It engaged in widespread industrial action in order to achieve recognition, increase wages, and reform inspection procedures. The union has rejected a proposal by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) for performance-agreement contracts for school principals, pointing out that employment contracts already outlines principals' obligations, and claiming that such performance agreements would be unfair in the light of poor resourcing and lack of skills at schools. In 2017, the National Education Collaboration Trust began work with SADTU to improve teaching at the basic education level in the

Eastern Cape The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha. The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...

and

Limpopo Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is ...

provinces.

Jobs for cash

In April, 2014, City Press reported that SADTU officials were running a racket, which involved accepting monetary bribes from educators in return for access to teaching or managerial positions. SADTU responded that the union was "only party to the filling of posts as observers to ensure the fairness" of the process. The DBE subsequently set up a ministerial task team (MTT), headed by Professor

John Volmink John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second E ...

, to investigate. The MTT indicated that six provinces were affected by the racketeering: the North West, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and the Eastern Cape. Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi admitted that his department was controlled by SADTU, and that the selling and buying of educational posts was "endemic". The

Minister of Basic Education The Minister of Basic Education is a Minister in the Cabinet of South Africa, with the responsibility of overseeing the Department of Basic Education, which is responsible for primary and secondary education. Before 10 May 2009 the portfolio for ...

Angie Motshekga observed that the investigations implicated primarily SADTU, although other teachers unions and government officials were also involved. The dysfunction in schools was attributed to "weak" government systems that had been "infiltrated" by a "complex patronage system". The report's conclusion was that SADTU's membership in the ANC's tripartite alliance gave it “enormous power and influence” over the education system, described the situation as “dangerous and inappropriate”, and found that it held the education system hostage to political processes. Following the release of the MTT's report, which SADTU had stalled until May, 2016, NAPTOSA, the second-largest teachers union in the country, welcomed the "honest attempt to address a vexing problem" but accused the Volmink team of "union-bashing"; NATU, the third-largest teachers union, found the investigation lacking, and the following year called for a judicial commission of inquiry, which would be able to more substantively investigate the issue due to its judicial powers. SADTU objected that they were being singled out for scapegoating for the ills of South Africa's education system, and insisted that there was no evidence that SADTU had facilitated improper conduct. A similar report by the SA Council of Educators found that the union as a whole had been involved, not just "a few rogue elements", as SADTU had maintained.

KwaZulu-Natal

SADTU has blamed KwaZulu-Natal's provincial education department for the educator shortages in the province, blaming "the redistribution of teachers as a result of a post provisioning norms process". 2 800 teaching posts remained unfilled in the province in February, 2017.

Criticism

The Economist ''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Econo ...

'', characterising South Africa's educational system as "one of the worst in the world", placed the blame on SADTU for "a lack of accountability and the abysmal quality of most teachers". The Department of Basic Education itself has identified SADTU as an obstruction to government efforts to improve education, with Minister Motshekga describing the union's influence as a "stranglehold" on education.

Leadership

General Secretaries

:1990: Randall van den Heever :1995:

Thulas Nxesi Thembelani Waltermade Nxesi (born 1 January 1959), popularly known as Thulas Nxesi, is a South African politician. A member of the African National Congress, he is the Minister of Employment and Labour. He was previously Minister of Public Wor ...

:2009: Mugwena Maluleke

Presidents

:1990:

Membathisi Mdladlana Membathisi Mdladlana (born 12 May 1952 in Keiskammahoek, Eastern Cape) is a South African politician. He is the South African High Commissioner to Canada as of November 2012. Political career He was the Minister of Labour of South Africa sinc ...

:1994: Duncan Hindle :1995: B. B. Mabandla :1996:

Willie Madisha William Mothipa Madisha is a South African trade unionist and politician. Madisha is the former President of both the Congress of South African Trade Unions (from 1999 to 2008) and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (from 1996 to 2008). M ...

:2008: Thobile Ntola :2014: Magope Maphila

References

External links

SADTU
Sadtu helps teachers with their work and rights {{Authority control Organisations based in Johannesburg Congress of South African Trade Unions Education trade unions Trade unions established in 1990 Trade unions in South Africa