Tag: SADTU

Sadtu ‘sickened’ by corruption

sadtuSouth African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has called on anyone with evidence that its members are involved in reported cash-for-jobs scandal to come forward calling the practice “sickening”.

The City Press has revealed that Sadtu officials are said to be selling positions for a minimum of R30 000 to teachers in KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and in Limpopo.

Sadtu’s general secretary Mugwena Maluleke says if any member is found to be involved, the union will take strong action.

“We can’t allow any officials in our union to be involved in crime because it’s sickening to make a teacher or member of the public to pay for a post, what kind of people are we in this country to allow such things?”

Furthermore, Sadtu says anyone who sells jobs for cash is acting as an individual and must not bring the union into disrepute by using its name.

Maluleke added: “We must make sure we root out corruption in the Department of Education and Sadtu is leading in that area.”

Source: EWN

Education Department ditches competence test for markers

Angie cancels competency tests
Angie ditches competence tests for matric markers

Not all those marking this year’s matric exam papers will have sat a test to demonstrate their competence, according to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

“Not all the provincial education departments will implement the competency test for markers in 2013, as initially planned,” she said in a written reply to a parliamentary question, tabled on Tuesday.

The reason was she had not yet approved a policy on administration of such a test, due to the need for further consultation with one of the teacher unions that had opposed the writing of the competency test.

Her reply does not name the union, but later refers to it as the country’s “major” teacher union. The largest teacher union in South Africa, with 240 000 members, is the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu).

Motshekga said she would meet the union to address their concerns and finalise the policy.

“However, given that most of the [provincial education departments] are at an advanced stage of appointing their markers for the 2013 National Senior Certificate examination, the official implementation of the competency test will be scheduled for 2014,” she said. – Sapa

Government officials not barred from visiting Mandela: ANC

Former president Nelson Mandela’s family has denied barring government officials from visiting him in hospital, the ANC said on Monday.

“We have spoken to the family about this report and they deny that they issued such an instruction or spoke to the media on barring the ANC and government from visiting Madiba,” said spokesman Jackson Mthembu in a statement.

“What we know is that given the pressure associated with the admission of president Mandela, there are general restrictions that permit only relevant people to have access.”

The Star newspaper reported on Monday that the Mandela family had taken charge of the 94-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner’s hospital stay, banning everyone — including government leaders and senior party officials — from visiting him.

Mthembu said: “We will continue as the ANC to pray for his recovery and call on all South Africans and the world to keep him and his family in their prayers… we appreciate the good work that is [being] done by his medical team.”

Mandela has spent two nights in hospital.

Earlier, the presidency said Mandela’s condition was “unchanged”.

“Former president Nelson Mandela remains in hospital, and his condition is unchanged. Madiba was admitted on Saturday, 8 June 2013, for treatment in a Pretoria hospital for a lung infection,” spokesman Mac Maharaj said.

Mandela has been in and out of hospital in the past few years. At the end of March and in April this year he spent nine days in hospital receiving treatment for recurring lung problems.

Messages of support continued to come in for the ailing icon.

North West premier Thandi Modise on Monday urged people to continue praying for Mandela.

“To many across the globe, in our country, and province, Tata Madiba is a unifier and a symbol of reconciliation,” Modise said in a statement.

“Though we know that he is not immortal, like all of us, we are inspired by his fighting spirit and wish his family all the strength for them to unite in love and continue to give him all the support he needs.”

The SA Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) also sent its best wishes to Mandela.

“Sadtu’s more than 260,000 members join millions in South Africa and the rest of the world in keeping our most revered icon Madiba and his family in our thoughts and prayers,” the union said in a statement. – Sapa

ANC Women’s League to approach Equality Court over ‘Angie’s panties’

The protest image in question

The ANC Women’s League intends approaching the Equality Court after protesting teachers displayed a pair of panties they said belonged to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

“The [African National Congress’s Women’s League] noted with dismay disturbing media reports about some Sadtu members publicly displaying a piece of underwear attributed to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga during last week’s protest march,” Limpopo ANCWL secretary Maleke Mokganyetsi said in a statement.

“They must face the full wrath of our criminal justice system.”

Describing the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union as “counter-revolutionary”, Mokganyetsi said protesters who displayed the panties in Pretoria on Wednesday had to be condemned.

“We refer to the short-sightedness and stupidity of a female-dominated union that humiliates and suppresses other women.”

The Sadtu protest was a call for the resignation of Motshekga and her director general Bobby Soobrayan.

A photograph of the large panties shows them being stretched across a piece of wire. The slogan “Puluma ya Angie” is written in black pen across its front.

“We are very much disappointed in those who are suppose to teach our children about sexual violence and gender discrimination, but opt to promote it in our streets,” said Mokganyetsi.

Sadtu spokesman Mugwena Maluleke said earlier this week the union was non-sexist and promoted equality.

“We therefore cannot condone such an act,” Maluleke said. – SAPA