Hidden in Plain Sight (2) It's not about corruption any more, stupid <http://city-press.news24.com/News/sadtus-power-grab-20151219> City Press, front page, 20 December 2015 "SADTU's Power Grab" "How SADTU Captured the State" CU, 23 December 2015 Above are the headlines of the story in the City Press of Sunday, 20 December 2015 in the hard-copy and on-line versions <http://city-press.news24.com/News/sadtus-power-grab-20151219> of the story, respectively A switch in plain sight The City Press campaign began in April, 2014 after the murder of Nkosinathi Zondi, regional chairman of SADTU on the Lower South Coast. The convicted murderer alleged that he had been paid as a hit man to kill Cde Zondi as part of a plot to sell a post for R30 000. Even thought the murder victim was a SADTU member and office-bearer, the City Press decided to spin this story against SADTU, which they have continued to do ever since, without any good evidence to support their campaign. Switching SADTU from victim to villain was the beginning. Now, another switch has taken place (see above). The main story is no longer, as it has been for the last 20 months at least, "jobs-for-cash". Now, it is "SADTU captured the State". Action on the "jobs-for-cash" will not now take place. Gestures have been made towards the police, but there are no dockets. There is no intention to prosecute anyone. On the contrary, any efforts, from whatever quarter to take any "jobs-for-cash" case to court will be sabotaged by the Department of Education. This is because it no longer serves their purpose and has become a nuisance and a potential liability for them, because courts may not be lenient towards the Department, which is the responsible body. Instead of pursuing the "jobs-for-cash" allegation, the department will act directly against SADTU, leveraging off the media stink that has been created by Paddy Harper and Ferial Haffajee in the City Press newspaper. The City Press is taking the lead in executing the switch, in collaboration with Professor John Volmink, who is Angie Motsheka's long-time paid servant and appointee. Volmink is a lifetime committed agent of privatisation in education, as we have demonstrated in "Hidden in Plain Sight," Part 1. Departmental spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said: "whatever we want, we will do on the back of this report." (see the City Press report <http://city-press.news24.com/News/sadtus-power-grab-20151219> ). The Volmink report is a union-bashing blueprint There is nothing disinterested about Volmink's report. Volmink is a promoter of privatisation in education and this report of his is designed as an instrument in the next stage of the process - which is the destruction of trade unionism among teachers and in the department. Please now read the edited extracts from the City Press's gloss on Volmink's report, given between lines below, or avail yourself of the link to read the entire City Press front-page article of 20 December 2015 <http://city-press.news24.com/News/sadtus-power-grab-20151219> . As a final proof of the new switch away from "jobs-for-cash" and towards a City Press campaign against SADTU "control", also called "stranglehold," please note the solicitation that appears at the bottom of the City Press article: "What should be done to break Sadtu's stranglehold on the country's education system? SMS your thoughts to 35697 using the keyword SADTU. SMSes cost R1.50. Please include your name and province" SADTU's approach to date SADTU has been encouraging the Department to investigate all allegations of selling of posts. Clearly, corrupt allocation of posts, if it is happening, is extremely prejudicial to the interests of all employees, including the vast majority who are SADTU members. This is a primary trade union matter: the demand for fair hiring and promotion practices. SADTU's approach has treated the Department's concern as being in good faith. As of now, it has become clear that the Department is not in good faith and has no intention of dealing with "jobs-for-cash" or any other corruption allegations. The Department, which, as the employer, is prima facie the principle perpetrator in any case of selling jobs, is about to wash its hands of responsibility, and wash its hands of pursuing any cases. Instead, the Department is going to use its in-house Volmink report, and with the support of the "City Press" as a pretext for "dealing with" SADTU, now on the new grounds that SADTU is "controlling" or "strangling" the department. Therefore SADTU has an immediate problem. Reliance on the Department for bona fide investigation has yielded no good results. >From the City Press article <http://city-press.news24.com/News/sadtus-power-grab-20151219> : A damning report into the jobs-for-cash scam run by officials from the department of basic education and teachers' union Sadtu reveals that the union "is in de facto control" of all but three of the country's provincial education departments. Volmink's report, a copy of which City Press has obtained, found that all deputy directors-general are Sadtu members. Volmink suggests an overhaul of the entire department and the manner in which teachers, principals and officials are appointed. "The task team has come to the conclusion that since 1994, the department has never had a chance to succeed," reads the report. "Therefore, there is a need for the state to undertake a complete overhaul, no matter how long it takes, of the entire system of schooling." . Teachers and office-based officials must be forbidden from being office bearers of political parties and principals and senior managers must be barred from occupying union leadership positions . New unions must be formed for office-based officials The Volmink report provides a chilling account of how Sadtu captured "managerial and administrative control" in six of the nine provincial departments. What should be done to break Sadtu's stranglehold on the country's education system? SMS your thoughts to 35697 using the keyword SADTU. SMSes cost R1.50. Please include your name and province Words between these above lines are edited quotes from the City Press VC -- -- 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] . 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