DA tells Motshekga to act against Sadtu

Magope Maphila (foreground), deputy president of the SA Democratic Teachers' Union attends their national general council at a Kempton Park hotel in eastern Johannesburg on Friday, 25 October 2013. The decision to suspend Sadtu president Thobile Ntola was not made lightly, Maphila said on Friday. Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

Magope Maphila (foreground), deputy president of the SA Democratic Teachers' Union attends their national general council at a Kempton Park hotel in eastern Johannesburg on Friday, 25 October 2013. The decision to suspend Sadtu president Thobile Ntola was not made lightly, Maphila said on Friday. Picture: Werner Beukes/SAPA

Published Jul 15, 2014

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Parliament - The DA on Tuesday called on government to put the country's largest teachers' union in its place.

“Use the courts, do whatever it takes, but make Sadtu (the SA Democratic Teachers Union) understand it does not run education in this country,” Democratic Alliance MP Annette Lovemore said, speaking during debate in Parliament on the education department's R19.68 billion budget.

She called on Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to “reclaim your management prerogative from Sadtu”.

The union, a Congress of SA Trade Unions affiliate, has a membership of about 240 000 teachers.

Lovemore said its members should no longer be allowed to get away with ill-disciplined behaviour in the country's schools.

“No longer should Sadtu interfere with appointments; no longer should Sadtu members refuse to sign performance agreements or undergo competency tests; no longer should Sadtu members escape accountability.”

She said Motshekga had to rise to the challenge.

“Education in the public sector is the prerogative of the government, not of Sadtu,” Lovemore said.

Sapa

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