The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union is calling on public servants and teachers not to resign following an un-founded rumour that is urging members to resign as the Government Employee Pension Fund was on a move to unilaterally change the benefits of members to such an extent that members may lose some benefits and money.
6th SADTU North West Provincial Conference
SADTU North West will be holding its 6th Triennial Provincial Conference from the 1st to the 3rd August 2014 at Mmabatho Palms Hotel in Mahikeng and the Provincial Conference will be attended by 200 SADTU delegates, representatives from government, sister unions, sister provinces, alliances, education alliances and business partners.
Media reports on holidays for teachers are misleading
It is with great regret that we note media reports suggesting that the Union is demanding an extension of the holidays allocated to teachers. The story on SADTU’s “demand” is an extreme exaggeration and distortion as it seeks to sensationalize what the General Secretary of SADTU Mugwena Maluleke said, at SADTU’s KZN Congress, in order to dent the image of SADTU and create an impression that we are a self centered union and want to spend as less time as possible in class.
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), with partners including Mindset, Telkom, Unkunzi, Hauwei, HP, Vortex, Cyberschool, Technology and 247 Technologies, will on Thursday (24 July 2014) officially launch a teacher development television programme in KwaZulu Natal.
SADTU’s investment company, SIHOLD,and the Union have joined the call by the Nelson Mandela Foundation to devote 67 minutes of their time in helping others to mark Nelson Mandela Day on Friday, 18 July at KwaGuqa in Emalahleni.
SADTU has welcomed the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga`s budget vote which has highlighted, amongst others, the following:
An increase of the budget by R2 billion from last year. This shows that government is still committed towards making education an apex priority.
The Department`s efforts towards making history a compulsory subject is encouraging. We agree with Minister Motshekga when she says, "A country that chooses to hide its heritage and historical footprints from its children takes the risk of
SADTU is looking forward to the tabling of the Department of Basic Education Budget vote by honorable Minister for Basic Education Department Angie Motshekga in parliament this afternoon.
The demands of quality public education require that the budget provides for the following which are long overdue:
Increased budget for teacher training and development;
GEPF has very strict rules about the benefits it must pay to its members, pensioners and beneficiaries. These rules are set out in a law (an Act of Parliament, approved and signed into law by the President) called the Government Employees Pension (or GEP) Law or the Regulations as negotiated in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) for post-retirement medical benefits. This Law and its rules explain how GEPF must collect money from contributing members and employers, how this money must be invested and how it must be paid out to those who are eligible for benefits.
SADTU Free State 6th Triennial Provincial Conference
27-29 June 2014, President Hotel, Bloemfontein
Declaration
We, the delegates from different branches in the Province, gathered here today representing the 14 000 members in the Province, as dictated by the union Constitution, to inter alia, review and formulate policies and propose amendments to the Constitution. Our 6th Triennial Provincial Conference was convened under the theme of the SADTU National Congress of 2010: “Organise and Empower Education Workers to Deliver Quality Public Education and Build Socialism.”
Our country`s history records that June 26 is one of the most important days in the context of our liberation struggle. It is on this day in 1950 that we had the second national stay away, the launch of the Defiance Campaign in 1952, the adoption of the Freedom Charter in 1955 and the formation of the Anti-Apartheid Movement preceded by boycott campaigns in South Africa in 1959.
SADTU pays respect to the Freedom Charter and SA’s most historic date
Today SADTU joins the ANC and the former oppressed people of South Africa in commemorating the 59th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter at the Congress of the People in Kliptown on June 26, 1955 and June 26 - the date on which most crucial game-changing political events took place and led to a democratic South Africa.
SADTU NORTHERN CAPE 6th PROVINCIAL CONFERENCE DECLARATION 2014
The SADTU Northern Cape 6th Provincial Conference which brings together the PROVINCIAL OFFICE BEARERS, REGIONAL OFFICE BEARERS and 1 BRANCH DELEGATE for every 200 paid up members convened from the 13-15 June 2014, Kimberley, representing 5642 educators and education workers, met to review the programmes of the Union, its policy positions, progress made on its 2030 Vision and broader issues both within and outside our sector.
A Special National Executive Committee was convened on the 11th of June 2014 in Kempton Park, with all the 9 provinces of the Union represented, the meeting acknowledged and reflected upon the current internal challenges facing the organization.
It is 38 years since the scenes of the 16th of June 1976 became permanently engraved in our collective conscious as a nation and 20yrs since we ushered in a democratic dispensation. There is no doubt that what has come to be known as "June 16" marked a turning point for our struggle against an unjust and inhumane system. The blood of those that paid the highest price on that faithful day nurtured the fruits of freedom that we enjoy today.
As South Africa observes Child Protection Week which takes place annually from the 1st until the 7th of June, SADTU would like to urge teachers to make everyday a child protection day for their learners. Children are the future of our country. They rely on adults to keep them safe, healthy and happy. Yet all too often adults abuse the trust that children place in them and, in many cases
SADTU welcomes the announcement of the North West Provincial EXCO by Honourable Premier, Cde Supra Mahumapelo.
We wish to congratulate particularly MEC for Education and Sports, Honourable Wendy Matsemela for being retained in the Education portfolio, Honourable Desbo Mohono
We also congratulate Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga and Minister of Higher Education and Training Dr Blade Nzimande for their appointment in the new Cabinet.
We hope that the minister of basic education will do everything in her power to ensure that labour peace is maintained.
The Commonwealth Teachers Group (CTG) is gravely concerned for the safety of the 234 school girls abducted from the Government College in Chibok, on 14th April. The safety and security of pupils while at school is of paramount importance. The CTG harshly condemns the seizure of these female students while at school
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) met - for the first time after the May 7 General elections - at the Union’s headquarters Matthew Goniwe House from the 15th until 16th of May 2014. The NEC took several decisions on pertinent issues involving among others, the general elections, abducted school girls in Nigeria, posts-for-cash-scams reports, the tragic loss of five learners in an accident in the KwaZulu Natal midlands and many more
The union has learnt with dismay and outrage the locking of gates and burning of two classrooms and two offices at Phafogang Secondary school in Soweto. It has been brought to our attention that some teachers who are allegedly SADTU members refuse to accept the appointment of a new principal on the basis that they demand the appointment of their own preferred candidate.