The Times *Teachers' union canes Zuma administration* /Government promises are 'just stunts'/*Dominic Mahlangu and Amukelani Chauke, The Times, Johannesburg, 7 October 2010*
The SA Democratic Teachers' Union yesterday tore into President Jacob Zuma's government, saying that its promises to voters were "nothing but publicity stunts".
Speaking at the union's national congress yesterday, its president, Thobile Ntola, said that since the ANC's elective conference in Polokwane - at which Zuma was elected to lead the ANC - state power had been used to distribute patronage.
He said that people without capacity were being appointed to lead the transformation of society.
"A better life for the people of South Africa still remains a public relations stance," he said at the opening of the conference, in Boksburg, on the East Rand.
Ntola lashed out at what he called the Zuma administration and the ANC's obsession with issues other than poverty and unemployment.
"While there is poverty and unemployment [this government's] priority is the media tribunal. Its priority is the classification and declassification of information.
"They are not worried about poverty," he said."They are not worried that education is not functioning . they are worried about hiding information about tenders . they are worried that the media might expose all those things, so they must be gagged," Ntola said to loud cheers by union members.
He denounced government education officials as "dishonest, useless and lazy".
The teachers' gathering was only a month after their union and others representing public-sector workers staged a three-week strike that crippled most government services.
The strike was suspended without a resolution acceptable to both sides.The union said that its members would decide at this week's congress whether to accept the government's offer.
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga had a stormy reception on arrival at the teachers' congress.
S he was booed and heckled when she was introduced and Ntola had to call for discipline.
Ntola said Sadtu should oppose ANC attempts to subject the leaders of its alliance partners to disciplinary hearings when they were critical of the ruling party.
In June, the ANC attempted to haul Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi before a disciplinary committee for criticising Zuma for not being vocal about corruption in his administration.
The ANC Youth League raised its concerns about Vavi last week after he said that there were "political hyenas" in the ANC.
"We must vow that no leader of the Communist Party, no leader of Cosatu, speaking on behalf of their organisation, will then be taken to the disciplinary committee of the ANC - over our dead bodies!" Ntola said.
He questioned the ANC's declaration that it was the leader of its alliance with trade union federation Cosatu and the SA Communist Party.
"The centre strategically is the alliance - that is our position. They can make noise in public and in the media [but] we will get what we want," Ntola said.
The teachers' union said its members had a constitutional right to campaign for political positions though the ANC has resolved that they should not.
Ntola said the union - Cosatu's biggest affiliate, with 245000 members - was tired of being overlooked when it came to elections and also tired of being "taken for granted".
"We are not accepting to be election fodders for few individuals, elections must take us close to better life for all," he said.
*From: http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/article693360.ece/Teachers-union-canes-Zuma-administration*
* * * * -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] .
<<image/jpeg>>
