Hundreds off to back union boss.
HUNDREDS of Eastern Cape supporters of suspended teachers’ union boss Thobile Ntola left for Johannesburg yesterday to take part in a march to the union’s headquarters today.
The group is demanding the reinstatement of the troubled South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) president.
Port Elizabeth-based Ntola was suspended last August for making comments to the media that the union had accepted Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s apology after admitting he had a sexual relationship with a junior official.
Sadtu’s central executive committee (CEC) said their president was misrepresenting the union as there was no such resolution within the structure, and therefore Ntola was misusing his position.
Eight more charges have been added to his charge sheet as the union continued with the hearing last Monday in his absence.
The outcome of the disciplinary hearing has not been made public yet.
The Daily Dispatch reported two weeks ago that more than 5 000 Ntola supporters from several provinces would be marching to the union’s headquarters today to voice their anger over Ntola’s suspension.
One of the three national organisers of the march, Andile Mtirara, said more than 500 union members from the Eastern Cape left late afternoon yesterday.
These included three buses from East London, two buses and seven taxis from Queenstown, seven 24seater taxis from Kokstad, four buses from Port Elizabeth and two 22seaters from Mthatha.
“All I can say is that it’s all systems go in other provinces as well.”
Mtirara said the North West has secured five buses, Free state two buses, 11 taxis from the Western Cape and four buses from Limpopo. The Gauteng province is expected to field the biggest number of delegates as it is the hosting province.
Mtirara claims they were pushing for Ntola’s re-instatement because the CEC had no constitutional right to do so.
He said the meeting was convened for something else and delegates had no mandate to discuss the president’s suspension.
He said if the CEC refuses to heed the call for Ntola’s exoneration, they will stop paying subscriptions to the national coffers. —
Teachers to join march for Ntola
HUNDREDS of Eastern Cape supporters of suspended teachers’ union boss Thobile Ntola left for Johannesburg yesterday to take part in a march to the union’s headquarters today.
The group is demanding the reinstatement of the troubled South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) president.
Port Elizabeth-based Ntola was suspended last August for making comments to the media that the union had accepted Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi’s apology after admitting he had a sexual relationship with a junior official.
Sadtu’s central executive committee (CEC) said their president was misrepresenting the union as there was no such resolution within the structure, and therefore Ntola was misusing his position.
Eight more charges have been added to his charge sheet as the union continued with the hearing last Monday in his absence.
The outcome of the disciplinary hearing has not been made public yet.
The Daily Dispatch reported two weeks ago that more than 5 000 Ntola supporters from several provinces would be marching to the union’s headquarters today to voice their anger over Ntola’s suspension.
One of the three national organisers of the march, Andile Mtirara, said more than 500 union members from the Eastern Cape left late afternoon yesterday.
These included three buses from East London, two buses and seven taxis from Queenstown, seven 24seater taxis from Kokstad, four buses from Port Elizabeth and two 22seaters from Mthatha.
“All I can say is that it’s all systems go in other provinces as well.”
Mtirara said the North West has secured five buses, Free state two buses, 11 taxis from the Western Cape and four buses from Limpopo. The Gauteng province is expected to field the biggest number of delegates as it is the hosting province.
Mtirara claims they were pushing for Ntola’s re-instatement because the CEC had no constitutional right to do so.
He said the meeting was convened for something else and delegates had no mandate to discuss the president’s suspension.
He said if the CEC refuses to heed the call for Ntola’s exoneration, they will stop paying subscriptions to the national coffers. —
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos