SADTU will hold its National General Council (NGC) from Friday, 25 until 27 October 2013 at The Premier Hotel, O.R. Tambo in Kempton Park, Gauteng.

The NGC meet on an annual basis to ratify the decisions of the National Executive Committee and adopt policy on issues of major importance.  Close to 156 delegates, from all nine provinces,  are expected to attend the NGC. They are made up of National Office Bearers,   Provincial Secretaries, Provincial Chairpersons, Regional Chairpersons and one additional regional delegate per 5000 paid- up members

Some of the issues the NGC will deliberate on include the upcoming national general elections and on-going policy discussions on education like competency tests, teacher development, initial training of teachers (including the recruitment of the correct calibre of trainees); Early Childhood Development  - the formalization thereof and the improvement of the conditions of service. The violence against teachers, the posture of the department of education on collective bargaining and attitude of the department towards proper consultation as required by legislation will be amongst the hot issues to be discussed.

The mid-morning part of the first day - 25 October 2013 - will have an open session that will be addressed by key speakers from the Tripartite Alliance. The president of COSATU, comrade S’dumo Dlamin and SACP General Secretary, comrade Blade Nzimande will address the meeting.

Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will also address the first day of the NGC.
The second day – 26 October 2013 will remain closed for commissions to take place.

The NGC Declaration will be presented and adopted in the morning of the third and final day of the congress - 27th October 2013 - which will also be open. The Union will also officially launch its 2014 National General Elections Campaign.

All media are welcome.

N.B. Any member of the media wishing to attend the NGC, please contact Nomusa Cembi SADTU Media Officer; Tel: (011) 334 4830, Cell: 082 7195157;  E-Mail: ncembi@sadtu.org.za.
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat