TEACHERS’ union boss Thobile Ntola has been expelled from Sadtu after being found guilty of six of the 10 charges against him.
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) national executive committee (NEC) endorsed the union disciplinary committee’s decision at its two-day meeting in Johannesburg last weekend, although this decision has yet to be made public.
Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said only his deputy, Nkosana Dolopi, could talk to the media about the matter, but yesterday Dolopi’s phone went unanswered and he did not respond to text messages.
However, the Daily Dispatch can exclusively reveal that Ntola’s letter of dismissal was couriered to his East London “home” address yesterday and delivered at 9am.
A well-placed source revealed that the letter stated the union boss had been “dismissed with immediate effect” and his membership suspended for 10 years.
His counterparts in the province announced they would “approach the courts” to declare the suspension invalid. “If the courts do not rule in our favour between now and the congress , we will lobby for support that the president’s suspension be reversed at the congress,” said the central region’s secretary, Zanele Booi.
Her counterparts in Kokstad shared similar sentiments. “We always expected this,” said Kokstad regional chairman Luvo Mvulana.
“We are going to press ahead as the Eastern Cape PEC for the courts to reverse this decision, because this is a witch-hunt,” he said.
Ntola was suspended in August last year after pledging support for then suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who sent shockwaves through Cosatu when he admitted to having an affair with a junior colleague.
A disciplinary committee found Ntola guilty of declaring the union satisfied with Vavi’s apology without getting a mandate to say this on behalf of Sadtu. He was also found guilty of:
- Going against central executive committee (CEC) decisions and addressing the media;
Accusing the Sadtu CEC of being Vavi’s enemies;
Violating the conditions of his suspension by continuing to address Sadtu events and talking to Sadtu members;
Endorsing a service provider in a television advert; and
Failing to disclose that he had accepted favours from a company that was doing business with the union, and using a house in East London owned by a businessman who had dealings with the union.Sadtu provincial secretary Mncekeleli Ndongeni said they were waiting for official word from headquarters, and, if the reports they were receiving were true, there was a standing resolution to defend Ntola.
“If it means we have to go to court we will. This is not an Eastern Cape matter. Everyone with a different view from the powers that be is being chased out of Sadtu. We can’t allow that to continue,” he said.
Sadtu issued a statement yesterday that expressed its disappointment “with the behaviour of some of our structures and members from particularly certain sections of the Eastern Cape and a few from North West, Free State and Limpopo who continue to advocate for the suspension of the constitution to serve their preferred leaders”.
This follows a march by pro-Ntola supporters to their Johannesburg head office, demanding his reinstatement.
“We were appalled by their recent failed illegal march to the national office despite the fact that disciplinary processes against comrade Ntola, as dictated by the constitution, are nearing their logical conclusion.
“We take serious exception to how these members have shown their to go as far as paralysing the national office and causing staff members to work under constant fear of their impending invasion of the building,” read the statement.
“As far as we are concerned, such acts are informed by cowardice and hooliganism we want to condemn in the strongest terms possible.
“We want to let these members and their handlers know that we will do everything in our power to defend the union, its constitution and indeed property.
“When the right time comes, we will act and we will do so decisively because our patience is not unlimited,” the secretariat added.
Ntola declined to comment. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
SADTU BOSS BOOTED OUT
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) national executive committee (NEC) endorsed the union disciplinary committee’s decision at its two-day meeting in Johannesburg last weekend, although this decision has yet to be made public.
Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said only his deputy, Nkosana Dolopi, could talk to the media about the matter, but yesterday Dolopi’s phone went unanswered and he did not respond to text messages.
However, the Daily Dispatch can exclusively reveal that Ntola’s letter of dismissal was couriered to his East London “home” address yesterday and delivered at 9am.
A well-placed source revealed that the letter stated the union boss had been “dismissed with immediate effect” and his membership suspended for 10 years.
His counterparts in the province announced they would “approach the courts” to declare the suspension invalid. “If the courts do not rule in our favour between now and the congress , we will lobby for support that the president’s suspension be reversed at the congress,” said the central region’s secretary, Zanele Booi.
Her counterparts in Kokstad shared similar sentiments. “We always expected this,” said Kokstad regional chairman Luvo Mvulana.
“We are going to press ahead as the Eastern Cape PEC for the courts to reverse this decision, because this is a witch-hunt,” he said.
Ntola was suspended in August last year after pledging support for then suspended Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who sent shockwaves through Cosatu when he admitted to having an affair with a junior colleague.
A disciplinary committee found Ntola guilty of declaring the union satisfied with Vavi’s apology without getting a mandate to say this on behalf of Sadtu. He was also found guilty of:
Sadtu provincial secretary Mncekeleli Ndongeni said they were waiting for official word from headquarters, and, if the reports they were receiving were true, there was a standing resolution to defend Ntola.
“If it means we have to go to court we will. This is not an Eastern Cape matter. Everyone with a different view from the powers that be is being chased out of Sadtu. We can’t allow that to continue,” he said.
Sadtu issued a statement yesterday that expressed its disappointment “with the behaviour of some of our structures and members from particularly certain sections of the Eastern Cape and a few from North West, Free State and Limpopo who continue to advocate for the suspension of the constitution to serve their preferred leaders”.
This follows a march by pro-Ntola supporters to their Johannesburg head office, demanding his reinstatement.
“We were appalled by their recent failed illegal march to the national office despite the fact that disciplinary processes against comrade Ntola, as dictated by the constitution, are nearing their logical conclusion.
“We take serious exception to how these members have shown their to go as far as paralysing the national office and causing staff members to work under constant fear of their impending invasion of the building,” read the statement.
“As far as we are concerned, such acts are informed by cowardice and hooliganism we want to condemn in the strongest terms possible.
“We want to let these members and their handlers know that we will do everything in our power to defend the union, its constitution and indeed property.
“When the right time comes, we will act and we will do so decisively because our patience is not unlimited,” the secretariat added.
Ntola declined to comment. — zineg@dispatch.co.za
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