ANC boss Gwede Mantashe has lashed out at supporters of beleaguered teachers’ union boss Thobile Ntola for taking “confidential” political discussions into the public domain.
This follows a report in yesterday’s Daily Dispatch which quoted senior South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) leader Andile Mtirara saying the union was pinning its hopes on an ANC intervention to mend divisions within the country’s biggest teachers’ union.
In the report Mtirara said suspended Sadtu president Ntola had already held an “informal” meeting with Mantashe, pleading for the ANC to intervene in the impasse.
Mantashe refused to confirm he had met Ntola to discuss intervening in Sadtu, saying: “I can’t discuss that with you. It is an organisational matter, not for the Daily Dispatch.”
He asked if the paper understood what the term “informal” meant.
“If a person confesses to me and thereafter goes to a friend and shares details of our confidential discussion, that is not my problem.
“That simply means Ntola has betrayed that confidentiality. He is giving in under pressure,” said Mantashe.
Mtirara had expressed the views of a group of Sadtu leaders who have rallied behind Ntola since his suspension last August.
The group plans to march to Sadtu’s headquarters on April 25, and Mtirara claimed more than 5000 union members would support the call to demand Ntola’s re-instatement. The call comes while the union conducts a disciplinary hearing which started on Monday. Ntola faces nine charges which include charges of bringing Sadtu into disrepute and corruption, after he allegedly accepted gifts from firms that do business with the union.
In a statement yesterday Sadtu’s deputy secretary Nkosana Dolopi said the hearings would continue in Ntola’s absence. Dolopi said Ntola’s lawyers had written a letter to the union’s lawyers on Monday advising the union that “they are unable to attend the hearing because of other commitments”.
The lawyers had advised Ntola to attend and apply for a postponement. “Despite the assurance from his (Ntola’s) lawyers, he did not arrive or call Sadtu to indicate why he could not attend.”
Dolopi said it was made clear to Ntola that “if he does not attend for good reasons, the hearing will proceed in his absence. The hearing continued ,” he added.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Ntola refused to say whether or not he had attended the hearing, or give reasons if he had not attended it. “I’m in no position to discuss this matter with the media. It is an internal process,” said Ntola. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
Mantashe slams Ntola’s group for releasing confidential information
This follows a report in yesterday’s Daily Dispatch which quoted senior South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) leader Andile Mtirara saying the union was pinning its hopes on an ANC intervention to mend divisions within the country’s biggest teachers’ union.
In the report Mtirara said suspended Sadtu president Ntola had already held an “informal” meeting with Mantashe, pleading for the ANC to intervene in the impasse.
Mantashe refused to confirm he had met Ntola to discuss intervening in Sadtu, saying: “I can’t discuss that with you. It is an organisational matter, not for the Daily Dispatch.”
He asked if the paper understood what the term “informal” meant.
“If a person confesses to me and thereafter goes to a friend and shares details of our confidential discussion, that is not my problem.
“That simply means Ntola has betrayed that confidentiality. He is giving in under pressure,” said Mantashe.
Mtirara had expressed the views of a group of Sadtu leaders who have rallied behind Ntola since his suspension last August.
The group plans to march to Sadtu’s headquarters on April 25, and Mtirara claimed more than 5000 union members would support the call to demand Ntola’s re-instatement. The call comes while the union conducts a disciplinary hearing which started on Monday. Ntola faces nine charges which include charges of bringing Sadtu into disrepute and corruption, after he allegedly accepted gifts from firms that do business with the union.
In a statement yesterday Sadtu’s deputy secretary Nkosana Dolopi said the hearings would continue in Ntola’s absence. Dolopi said Ntola’s lawyers had written a letter to the union’s lawyers on Monday advising the union that “they are unable to attend the hearing because of other commitments”.
The lawyers had advised Ntola to attend and apply for a postponement. “Despite the assurance from his (Ntola’s) lawyers, he did not arrive or call Sadtu to indicate why he could not attend.”
Dolopi said it was made clear to Ntola that “if he does not attend for good reasons, the hearing will proceed in his absence. The hearing continued ,” he added.
When contacted for comment yesterday, Ntola refused to say whether or not he had attended the hearing, or give reasons if he had not attended it. “I’m in no position to discuss this matter with the media. It is an internal process,” said Ntola. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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