End of year statement by the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU)
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) extends its gratitude to teachers, education support personnel, students, and members for their dedication throughout 2024. Furthermore, SADTU conveys its best wishes for the upcoming year, 2025.
In 2025, SADTU will continue to advocate for fair compensation by focusing in completing wage negotiations for all government employees. The union has reflected on the challenges faced by our negotiators and will redouble its commitment to protecting the integrity of the wage negotiation process. SADTU will push against austerity measures that suppress wages and destroy the economy
In 2025, SADTU will wage war against post reductions as these will negatively impact working-class children and employees in the education sector.
Additionally, in 2025, SADTU will finalize negotiations on the conditions of service for Grade R educators to improve the quality of public education in a decolonized context.
The Union’s 10th National Congress resolved to establish a knowledge institute, and in 2025, this project will be kickstarted either virtually or physically, to conduct comparative research on education policy. It is critically important to have an education system that provides quality foundational and functional skills.
These goals underscore SADTU’s dedication to improving the working conditions of educators and education support personnel, as well as the quality of education in South Africa.
As we conclude 2024 the country has been polarized by a racist minority that has dominated political, economic, and social life for centuries. The Bela Act has exposed the beneficiaries of colonialism and apartheid. This racist group led by the DA is not prepared to deracialize, democratize, and integrate our schools or any educational institutions. SADTU will not allow centuries of domination to continue.
The Union has noted the decision to put into operation Clauses 4 and 5 of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. SADTU wishes to make it clear that the prior decision not to implement these clauses when the Act was assented to was unconstitutional. The process of the BELA took over 10 years and involved various stakeholders including the current detractors of the Act. BELA is one of the most significant legislative transformations since the dawn of democracy. It is regrettable that the so-called government of national unity is now being used to stifle progress towards transformation and improving the lives of the majority who endured years of apartheid and colonialism.
The conduct of these anti-transformation forces constitutes an affront to our constitutional values and principles and the struggle for the total emancipation of the African child. This conduct is also an insult to the youth of 1976, who resisted the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction, including for Africans. These anti transformation forces are well aware that the Constitutional Court, amongst others, has ruled on the various aspects of the rules and that the Act is based on the dictates of the court’s judgements. While these forces claim to uphold the rule of law, they are in fact undermining the judiciary, the legislature and civil society combined to advance a narrow and selfish racist agenda.
The anti-transformation forces led by the DA seek to create a false impression that they scored some victory. They are simply delusional. There are no conditions for the full implementation of the Act. It is standard practice that every law may require regulations, as provided for in the law itself. The narrative that the full implementation of the Act is on condition that regulations, norms, and standards are in place is merely a way of avoiding embarrassment. The National Education Policy Act clearly outlines the process of creating regulations, norms, and standards. This is what the Act states and no amount of private deals can amend any law.
The decision of the Minister of Basic Education to undermine the decision of Parliament to serve selfish interests of a bigoted, racist faction of our society is the clear indication that our struggle for the nonracial, nonsexist, democratic South Africa must gain momentum. This also indicates that the majority cannot continue to negotiate with the minority that does not wish to ensure and realize the vision of a socially cohesive society. The objections to BELA primarily reflect an objection to the majority having access to quality public education, representing a regressive agenda previously championed by Hendrick Verwoerd.
Because this regressive anti-transformation force knows it has no leg to stand on in a court of law, it seeks to exploit the current political environment to advance their narrow agenda.
SADTU wishes to issue a clear warning to the Minister and her political party that they will not go unchallenged in their attempts to undermine the Constitution and the interests of the majority. SADTU calls upon society to stand firm and ensure that the process of transformation of our society gains momentum. Communities are also encouraged to effectively participate in the affairs of their schools to defeat any agenda that seeks to prevent children from accessing quality education.
SADTU has also noted the various processes that have been abused to advance this narrow racist agenda. These include what is clearly an abuse of power by the Minister of advancing the interest of a party above the national interest. The abuse of the process of NEDLAC requires full and independent investigation. SADTU will, in due course, approach the relevant authorities to investigate the conduct of some government officials involved in this matter.
SADTU is ready for the battles of 2025 and will work with those committed to the total emancipation of the majority of the population.
END
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat