NORTHERN CAPE POST PROVINCIAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEDIA STATEMENT
11 DECEMBER 2024
The Provincial Executive Committee of the South African Democratic Teachers’
Union (SADTU) in the Northern Cape held its ordinary meeting from the 09 –10
December 2024 at Ein Gedi Premier Lodge in Kimberley. This was the first PEC after the 10th National Congress of SADTU where amongst other things elected the leadership that will lead the union for the next 5 years. The National Congress elected the following leadership collective:
President : Comrade Magope Maphila
Deputy President : Comrade Mabutho Cele
General Secretary : Comrade Mugwena Maluleke
Deputy General Secretary : Comrade Nkosana Dolopi
National Treasurer : Comrade Lindiwe Motshwane
Vice President Education : Comrade Faseega Solomon
Vice President Gender : Comrade Dudu Nkosi
Vice President SAC : Comrade Nolitha Mboniswa
The PEC expressed its full confidence and pledged its unwavering support to the leadership collective as elected. At its session, the PEC was graced by the presence of the President of SADTU, Comrade Magope Maphila, who gave an informative, building and uniting input on behalf of the National Working Committee.
As part of the organizational work, the meeting was charged with adoption of the plan for 2025, in line with the recruitment and retention of membership of the union, as well as the budget for the year 2025. The PEC further emphasized the importance of membership service.
Having applied itself on issues raised in the Secretariat report as well as the Regional Reports, the meeting concluded that there is a need for robust and honest engagements within the education sector. To this end, The PEC expressed its great concern on the Non-payment of Section 21 Allocations to schools, which, inter alia, covers for services, LTSM and maintenance. Equally concerning is the non-payment of Pay Progression and PMDS.
As the union, we firmly believe that non-payments pose a threat for the smooth start of the 2025 academic year. Furthermore, we noted with contempt the continued injustice on education workers by failing to pay monies due to them.
Noting the serious of these matters, The PEC took immediate decision to invite the Acting HOD, CFO and Acting Chief Director for HR to obtain clarity and convey its collective dissatisfaction on non-payments.
Flowing from that session with the education officials, The Provincial Executive Committee further resolved to engage the MECs responsible for Education and Economic development together with the Premier to ensure resolution of this impasse.
We firmly believe that the children of the working class and the poor are equally worthy to claim the right to education as enshrined in the Constitution. These children must receive public quality education and therefore educational goods and services must be secured.
Equally, pay progression is a collective agreement outcome and to undermine lawful agreement, it is effectively to undermine collective bargaining. To this effect, provincial treasury must ensure that pay progression as the condition of service is implemented.
We are alive of the slow growth in the economy, but Education as the apex priority of the government cannot be compromised. Failure to pay section 21 allocations would mean schools will be without services and the necessary tools to provide Education and clearly, schools will not be ready to reopen on the 13 January 2025.
As SADTU, we are committed to public education and we will continue to advocate for quality public education for all. We expect all education stake stakeholders to play their role in ensuring that we achieve this mission.
Compiled by the Secretariat