Former Eastern Cape education department bosses spoke openly to the Daily Dispatch this week about their experiences with teacher unions, particularly the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu).
It comes in the wake of a report by the national Department of Basic Education that implicates Sadtu in a scam selling teaching jobs.
Advocate Modidima Mannya (superintendent-general from 2000 to 2001; returned 2004 to 2006):
“It appears that a perception persists that I was removed from my position by Sadtu. This borders on tasteless propaganda. It is a matter of public record that the very Minister of Basic Education who today seeks to play victim following the release of the Professor Volmink reports was the key ringleader of the project to remove me from the post.
“Sadtu’s noise came later after numerous failed attempts to have me removed from my post.”
Mannya said politicians and unionists were behind his removal because they wanted tenders.
He questioned the department’s motives for blaming Sadtu in the current saga, saying such finger-pointing happened when it suited politicians.
Nomlamli Mahanjana (SG from 2007 to 2008):
“A certain individual used Sadtu members, not the top union leaders, to get rid of me.”
She said this was despite the department being stable under her leadership and that of former education MEC Johnny Makgato.
Mahanjana said that at the time of her departure there were political changes in the ANC that had been brought about by the ruling party’s watershed Polokwane conference in December 2007.
She said some politicians wanted her gone to access departmental funds.
Professor Harry Nengwekhulu (SG from 2004 to 2005; returned in 2008 to 2009):
“I had good relations with the unions. The only problem was principals inflating pupil numbers to receive higher salaries.”
He said there were school-governing bodies who tried to manipulate appointments in certain cases.
Nengwekhulu said he was shocked when he first heard of the allegations that Sadtu was selling teaching posts.
Former education MEC Mkhangeli Matomela (from 2004 to 2007):
“I’m struggling to understand how Sadtu could do it. There are officials dealing with recruitment processes.”
However, Matomela said while he was political head of department, there were cases where some districts complained about Sadtu challenging appointments of those not affiliated to them.
“I don’t know if this was influenced by the ANC deployment policy and when their people are in charge they are easy to influence,” Matomela said.
Top officials reflect on relations with unions
It comes in the wake of a report by the national Department of Basic Education that implicates Sadtu in a scam selling teaching jobs.
Advocate Modidima Mannya (superintendent-general from 2000 to 2001; returned 2004 to 2006):
“It appears that a perception persists that I was removed from my position by Sadtu. This borders on tasteless propaganda. It is a matter of public record that the very Minister of Basic Education who today seeks to play victim following the release of the Professor Volmink reports was the key ringleader of the project to remove me from the post.
“Sadtu’s noise came later after numerous failed attempts to have me removed from my post.”
Mannya said politicians and unionists were behind his removal because they wanted tenders.
He questioned the department’s motives for blaming Sadtu in the current saga, saying such finger-pointing happened when it suited politicians.
Nomlamli Mahanjana (SG from 2007 to 2008):
“A certain individual used Sadtu members, not the top union leaders, to get rid of me.”
She said this was despite the department being stable under her leadership and that of former education MEC Johnny Makgato.
Mahanjana said that at the time of her departure there were political changes in the ANC that had been brought about by the ruling party’s watershed Polokwane conference in December 2007.
She said some politicians wanted her gone to access departmental funds.
Professor Harry Nengwekhulu (SG from 2004 to 2005; returned in 2008 to 2009):
“I had good relations with the unions. The only problem was principals inflating pupil numbers to receive higher salaries.”
He said there were school-governing bodies who tried to manipulate appointments in certain cases.
Nengwekhulu said he was shocked when he first heard of the allegations that Sadtu was selling teaching posts.
Former education MEC Mkhangeli Matomela (from 2004 to 2007):
“I’m struggling to understand how Sadtu could do it. There are officials dealing with recruitment processes.”
However, Matomela said while he was political head of department, there were cases where some districts complained about Sadtu challenging appointments of those not affiliated to them.
“I don’t know if this was influenced by the ANC deployment policy and when their people are in charge they are easy to influence,” Matomela said.
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