SADTU 10TH NATIONAL CONGRESS MEDIA STATEMENT
30 September 2024
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) held a successful 10th National Congress on the 25th -28th of September at Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg under the theme: “Mobilising the consciousness and uniting revolutionary professionals in strengthening foundational learning and functional skills, to advance inclusive and sustainable economic growth in pursuance of a socialist society.”
The 10th National Congress brought together close to 2000 delegates which included 1 258 voting delegates, 61 non-voting delegates, representatives from sister unions locally and internationally, alliance partners and stakeholders in education.
Speakers at Congress
The attendance of the congress was graced by Deputy President of South Africa and the African National Congress, Cde Paul Mashatile who delivered the keynote address. He commended teachers for being the backbone of society and committed government and ANC to work at improving teachers’ conditions of employment including better remuneration.
The General Secretary of the General Union of Palestinian Educators, Saed Erziqat addressed the Congress and raised the following issues:
- The dismal state of education due to war waged by Israel against Palestine.
- The Israeli occupation of Gaza has completely or partially destroyed over 315 schools and more that 20 universities leading to a complete suspension of education in Gaza for an entire year.
- More than 625 000 students are deprived of their right to education.
- The occupation has claimed the lives of over 11 000 students and wounded more than 17 500. It has killed over 520 teachers and university professors, injuring more than 3 600.
The Congress received messages of support from Cosatu President, Zingiswa Losi, SACP General Secretary, Solly Mapaila, Education International (EI) General Secretary David Edwards, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary, Luc Triangle, and the Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule.
SADTU has a future.
The outgoing convener of the SADTU Student Chapter, Cde Xolani Dube delivering the message of support, raised the following salient points:
- the Student Chapter was a signal and symbol of growth for the Union as SADTU no longer finds itself in schools and colleges but in universities as well where teachers are produced.
- The Student Chapter emanates from the Constitution of the Union which allows for associate membership to student teachers.
- The 9th National Congress in 2019 resolved that the Union should organise education faculty students across all institutions of higher learning and establish the SADTU Student Chapter and provide relevant political education programmes to student teachers, educate them about labour rights and other matters within the sector as they prepare to enter the system and create a data base and tracking system for final year students for recruitment purposes.
Dube announced that the Student Chapter in its few years of existence now has more than 27 branches across all corners of the country with a 20 000 membership of student teachers. He said the shift in the balance of forces and the change in the political landscape, necessitated any existing organisation to create a solid base that will have unwavering commitment in carrying out duties and ideals of the organisation from one generation to another. The Student Chapter is that base in the life of SADTU.
Go Public! Fund Education
The Congress launched the Go Public, Fund Education campaign which is aimed at urging governments to invest in public education, a fundamental human right and public good, and to invest more in teachers, the single most important factor in achieving quality education. This means guaranteeing labour rights and ensuring good working conditions, as well as manageable workloads and competitive salaries for teachers and education workers, prioritizing the conditions and salaries of Teachers at Early Childhood Education. It also means valuing and respecting teachers, ensuring they are central in decision-making and trusting their pedagogical expertise.
Congress Declaration
Congress delegates engaged in robust debates and discussions on educational, socio-economic, and political matters in commissions and produced resolutions which informed the Declaration that was presented on the final day of the Congress.
The Declaration, aligned with the Congress theme and anchored in the five pillars of the Union’s 2030 Vision: Servicing Union members; Creating a Learning Nation; Promoting a Developmental-Oriented Nation state; Creating International Partnerships and Building a capacity-based organisation, committed the Union to build a transformative and inclusive education system that serves the needs of our nation and its people.
Under the pillar of servicing union members, the Congress declared:
– its commitment to prioritising the welfare and professional development of our members by among ot hers:
- offering training programmes focused on revolutionary pedagogy that empowers educators to teach in ways that promote critical thinking, social justice, and inclusivity.
- skills enhancement workshops that include training in digital literacy, project-based learning, and other innovative teaching strategies.
- launch campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of foundational learning and functional skills and advocate for policies that support the decolonization of education and the integration of foundational and functional skills into the curriculum.
- offer mentorship programmes and well-being initiatives to members, forming partnerships with community organisations and foster greater parent and community involvement as part of the Union’s I am A School Fan campaign to support education initiatives and promote social justice.
- offer awards and celebrate achievements of educators and education support personnel who make significant contributions to the decolonization of education, foundational learning, and functional skills development.
- strengthen collective bargaining and dispute resolution mechanism through capacitating our full-time shop stewards, negotiators, and organisers.
- fight austerity measures by mobilising members and communities to counter neo-liberal policies that promote budget cuts instead of investing in education
- The union will oppose any form of retrenchment and prepare for a real war against the DA-led Western Cape department of education that wants to lay off 2 400 teachers at a time of overcrowded classes more especially at our rural and township schools, which are attended by poor black learners.
Under the pillar of Creating a Learning Nation, the Congress pledged:
- to foster a culture of lifelong learning and educational excellence through, among others, the provision of continuous professional development for teachers focusing on innovative teaching methods and the integration of foundational and functional skills into the curriculum.
- to advocate for a curriculum that is inclusive, decolonized, and reflective of our diverse heritage.
- to campaign for the development and promotion of all our languages to a point of being languages of instruction, following on the example of the Eastern Cape, where there are piloting IsiXhosa as a language of instruction for many subjects.
- to advocate for curriculum reforms, implementing comprehensive teacher training programmes, and engaging communities in educational initiatives.
- The congress reaffirmed schools as safe heavens, and called for an end to violence, gangsterism, bullying, racism, and other form of discrimination
- The Congress declared, “No to the attack of teachers, Hands off our Teachers;” and will be lobbying stakeholders to introduce legislation to protect the human rights of teachers in terms of the constitution of the country and the international right to a safe workplace.
In Promoting a Development-oriented nation state, the Congress committed:
- to align the Union’s educational goals with the broader national development agenda, contributing to the socio-economic advancement of the country through influencing education policies through advocacy, promoting research and innovation in education, and integrating sustainable practices in education.
- to campaign against all backward, divisive, and destructive tendencies of regionalism, racism, patriarchy, and the demon of tribalism
In Creating International partnerships, the Congress vowed:
- to strengthen global alliances that would assist in enhancing educational standards by, among others, participating in international educational forums, with a specific focus on our friends in Swaziland, Palestine, and Cuba
- to develop exchange programmes for teachers, education support personnel and students,
- to form strategic alliances with international education unions and educational organisations to share best practices, resources, and support.
On Building a capacity-based organisation, the Congress declared:
– to invest in leadership development, implement systems for operational excellence and develop sustainable funding strategies in the TVET branches in particular.
“In pursuit of these commitments, we call upon all members, stakeholders, and partners to join us in this transformative journey. Together we will build an education system that not only meets the needs of today but also prepares for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow,” the Congress declared.
Union Leadership
One of the functions of a national congress is to elect new national office bearers. All eight national office bearers were re-elected unopposed as follows:
- President, Cde Magope Maphila
- Deputy President, Cde Lucky Goodman Mabutho Cele
- General Secretary, Cde Mugwena Maluleke
- Deputy General Secretary, Cde Nkosana Dolopi
- National Treasurer, Cde Lindiwe Motshwane
- Vice President (Gender), Cde Dudu Nkosi
- Vice President (Sports, Arts and Culture), Cde Nolitha Yolisa Yvonnia Mboniswa
- Vice President (Education), Cde Faseega Solomon.
In conclusion
The Congress committed to ensuring that the Department of Basic Education implement the Basic Education Amendment Act, (BELA Act). The Act is close to the Union’s heart as we made submissions during public hearings when it was a bill. It was put in place to strengthen certain sections of the existing South African Schools Act to align with the country’s Constitution to pave way for every learner to access education. The Congress warned that the non-implementation of the Act would be a declaration of war on the side of the Minister of Basic Education.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat