Johannesburg - The SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) was angered on Sunday at the Anglican Church of Southern Africa's call for church members in the union to transform it or resign.
“The dictatorial and judgmental stance by the Anglican Church... lacks the Christian agenda but reeks of a political agenda,” it said in a statement.
“We would like to warn the churches not to allow themselves to be used as pawns in politics.”
The church's provincial synod adopted a resolution on Friday condemning “corruption and laziness which deprives our children of the education they deserve”.
“The church... has called on church members who also belong to Sadtu either to transform the trade union into a body that truly serves the cause of education, or resign from Sadtu,” the church said in a statement on Friday. It called on the union to “refrain from destructive stay-aways” and on Parliament to declare teaching an essential service.
Sadtu said the 260 000 of its members who formed 70 percent of teachers in South Africa felt offended by the synod's resolution.
“We reject the synod's call with the contempt it deserves and its attempt to interfere in labour issues and the rights that we fought for,” the union said.
“We will not allow education to be colonised by the Anglican Church.”
Sadtu said it had become fashionable to see “church leaders or men of the cloak (sic)” organise against affiliates of the Congress of SA Trade Unions.
The union said pupils were beating up and threatening teachers and drugs were becoming the “new entertainment tool” for both youth and adults, leading to havoc in families.
“However, the Anglican Church is silent on these (issues) when we expect them to take a leading role in moral regeneration,” Sadtu said. - Sapa