SADTU STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF FOUNDING PRESIDENT, COMRADE MEMBATHISI SHEPHERD MDLADLANA
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) is mourning the passing of its founding president, Comrade Membathisi Shepherd Mdladlana who led the Union from its inception in 1990 until 1994.
Comrade Mdladlana was a teacher of note and a revolutionary professional who was a champion for workers’ rights, free quality public education and a unifier. He led the struggle for the transformation of education in South Africa anchored on people’s education for people’s power, the rights of teachers as workers and professionals and for unity among teachers and teacher organisations who were divided along racial lines.
He knew the power of education as a tool which could change the lives of children of the poor and working class to become key players to develop our country politically, socially, and economically. We will remember him for his belief in focussing on foundation and functional skills. He regarded teaching as a revolutionary task, hence he would passionately sing the song, “We can teach and strike at the same time.”
SADTU was launched in the twilight years of the Nationalist apartheid regime and Mdladlana was at the forefront leading the struggle for the Union’s recognition, negotiating with close to 18 racially and ethnically divided education departments who did not take kindly to unions, leaving SADTU with no option but to embark on strikes in order to be heard
In the end, SADTU was formally recognised by the Nationalist government and the right of teachers to form and join a union of their choice was secured. Further, towards the end of his tenure as SADTU president, the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) was established with the primary aim of maintaining labour peace within public education through the provision of dispute resolution services and collective bargaining long before a public sector collective bargaining chamber was established.
It was during his time as SADTU president that the rights of women were recognised in terms of conditions of service and the principle of equal pay for equal work. It was under his leadership that SADTU campaigned for paid maternity leave in our sector. This was a major victory for women because becoming pregnant led to the termination of service for female teachers.
A true servant of the people who wanted to see the lives of South Africans changing for the better, Comrade Mdladlana served the country diligently when he became a member of Parliament representing the ANC in the first democratic parliament in 1994. He contributed to the drafting of the Bill of Rights as he served as chair of the Theme Committee 4 which was responsible for the drafting of the Bill. He was member of the Home Affairs portfolio committee and in 1998, he became Minister of Home Affairs. He represented South Africa as an ambassador in Burundi and Canada.
As a Union, we commit to preserve his legacy by ensuring that SADTU remains united and we realise our 10th Congress theme which we believe he espoused: “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”
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat