The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) held its second ordinary meeting of the year on the 26th and 27th of June 2025 in Kempton Park.
The first day of the meeting coincided with the country’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter during Youth Month. June also recognises the World Day Against Child Labour on June 12th, which highlights the pervasive issue of child labour and galvanises global action towards its elimination.
In marking the Freedom Charter anniversary, the NEC reaffirmed the Union’s deep commitment to the Charter’s call: “The doors of learning and culture shall be opened.” This clause has had a profound and lasting impact on the transformation of education in South Africa and continues to serve as a guiding light in our struggle for a truly equitable, decolonised, and people-centred education system.
The Freedom Charter inspires the Union to advocate for decolonised, inclusive curricula that do not merely teach what to think, but how to think. The Union is working with the Kara Heritage Institute towards creating a decolonised and people-centred education system. Recognising SADTU as a beacon of hope in the cultural revolution, the Institute has proposed a collaborative relationship to assist SADTU in establishing a Heritage and History Commission to help rewrite true African history and partner in the promotion of African culture, history, and spirituality across generations.
Solidarity with flood victims in the Eastern Cape
The NEC noted and expressed its support and solidarity with the Eastern Cape families whose lives were devastated by the recent floods, particularly in Mthatha and Butterworth. Hundreds of homes and basic infrastructure were destroyed, and lives were tragically lost including learners from Jumba Senior Secondary School, Bambanani Primary School, and Fairfield Primary School.
The NEC resolved to make an urgent call to members to donate towards the victims, echoing the Union’s 2022 initiative when all nine provinces of SADTU contributed food, clothing, and learning materials to flood victims in KwaZulu-Natal.
The state of the Union:
We celebrate the renewal sparked by our recent branch and ongoing regional Triennial General Meetings. This vibrant momentum has strengthened our unity and fuelled remarkable growth, confirming our place as the union of choice, a beacon of
hope for teachers and education workers, and reinforcing our commitment to driving education transformation nationwide.
Looking ahead, we will build on this energy by:
•Hosting feedback forums to capture member ideas.
•Launching targeted professional-development initiatives.
•Deepening community partnerships to broaden our impact.
Together, we will keep elevating the teaching profession and shaping the future of education.
SADTU proudly announces a landmark victory for Grade R practitioners where we have secured permanent employment for every practitioner in the North West province who was previously deemed “irregular,” and we have won a government-funded draft collective agreement to upgrade Grade R professional status.
SADTU remains the majority union in the ELRC, PSCBC. The NEC called on every province to step up efforts to represent members, grow the union and, reinforcing that “each member is an organiser.”
The state of education: Provincial Challenges and Campaign Against Austerity
This NEC meeting was the first since the Union’s National March on April 23rd to the Department of Treasury and Finance, Department of Basic Education, and Department of Higher Education and Training to demand increased education funding amid ongoing austerity measures.
Challenges raised by provinces include:
•KwaZulu-Natal (KZN): Failure by the provincial department to disburse funds for stationery and the School Nutrition Programme. The department’s limited capacity had led to a proposed withdrawal from SASCE music competitions. The Union successfully pushed back and obtained commitments from the provincial government.
•North West: Ongoing issues with infrastructure, office-based staff allowances (Travel and Office-Based Maintenance), learner transport, and delays in disbursing Section 21 and National School Nutrition Programme funds.
•Western Cape: Concerns about overcrowded classrooms, extortion at schools, non-payment of UIF for underqualified Grade R practitioners, and lack of conversion for qualified practitioners to Post Level 1 educators.
•Northern Cape: Qualified Grade R practitioners are not being permanently employed. The provincial department blames austerity measures, risking the loss of qualified practitioners.
The NEC resolved to continue with the “Go Public, Fund Education!” campaign in various forms to fight austerity and push for investment in quality public education.
Education Matters.
Skills Training: As part of the Teacher Union Collaboration (TUC), SADTU has signed a new Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for 2025–2027 with the Department of Basic Education (DBE), aligned to the Integrated Strategic Planning Framework and the Skills for a Changing World initiative. SADTU will train 15,095 teachers annually, focusing on Assessment for Learning (AfL). DBE has also identified Entrepreneurship and Mother Tongue-Based Bilingual Education (MTbBE) for rollout.
Additionally, in collaboration with the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT), SADTU will train 1,000 school leaders across provinces to improve their support in implementing AfL strategies.
Coding and Robotics: SADTU fully supports the inclusion of Coding and Robotics in the curriculum, recognising its role in developing critical thinking, creativity, and digital literacy. However, the NEC expressed concern about poor implementation, lack of consultation, and inadequate teacher preparation. The NEC resolved to call on the DBE to pause further implementation of the current CAPS for Coding and Robotics pending a comprehensive re-evaluation.
Promotion and Progression in the GET Phase: The Union is actively engaging in discussions around proposed changes to promotion and progression requirements in the General Education and Training (GET) phase and will consult members to inform its position.
NSC Marker Competency Tests: SADTU strongly opposes competency tests for National Senior Certificate (NSC) markers unless included as part of professional development. The Union sees the current move as an attempt to de-professionalise educators.
History Curriculum: The NEC welcomed progress made on the draft History Curriculum for Grades 4 to 12, aligning with SADTU’s long-standing demand for History to be a compulsory subject. This overhaul—not a superficial revision—will require significant professional development for teachers.
I_Menstruate Movement and Menstrual Health Equity Bill (Draft): SADTU supports the draft Menstrual Health Equity Bill, aimed at eradicating “period poverty” by ensuring access to menstrual products, education, and facilities in all schools advancing gender equality and learner dignity.
The Union’s gender desk leads fundraising across regions to provide sanitary pads and toiletries to under-resourced schools. Securing government support for these supplies would help prevent school dropouts by alleviating the shame, bullying, and emotional strain that menstruating learners often face.
On Political Matters:
SADTU is charting its course within the National Democratic Revolution, noting the ANC’s renewal efforts and the SACP’s move to contest elections independently. To resolve which Alliance partner to back in upcoming polls (currently the ANC), the union will convene a Special Congress in late 2025 or early 2026 and work to dispel strategic confusion ahead of COSATU’s Central Committee meeting.
The NEC also welcomed the withdrawal of the proposed VAT increase and the guarantee on the public service wage agreement, while calling for greater investment in education infrastructure.
International Matters:
The NEC condemned Donald Trump’s reckless foreign policy maneuvers for stoking global instability and the specter of a world war, warning that innocent civilians, especially women, children, the elderly and the working class, bear the heaviest toll. They emphasised that history shows wars produce nothing but destruction and human suffering, with no genuine path to progress.
Palestine: The NEC expressed deep concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, pledging support and calling on members to donate aid for affected Palestinians. The UN must step in boldly to stop the genocide.
Israel-Iran Conflict: The NEC noted rising tensions that now include direct confrontation, following Israel’s violation of international law by recklessly attacking Iran. The bullying actions by Israel must condemned and the UN must be bold to hold Israel accountable. The war must be stopped immediately.
Myanmar: The NEC condemned ongoing violence by the military junta, including airstrikes on schools and widespread displacement. It called for urgent international action and accountability.
Leadership update:
The NEC elected Thando Ndaba-Makitla, Deputy Chairperson of Limpopo, as the Union’s new Vice President (Gender). She succeeds Dudu Nkosi, who retired at the end of April.
2025 Southern African Teachers’ Organisation (SATO) Games:
Preparations are underway for the 2025 SATO Games, to be hosted by SADTU from 29 to 31 August 2025 in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The Games will bring together teachers from eSwatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, and other SADC countries.
Participants will compete in athletics, soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis, darts, chess, and pool.
Together, we rise in revolutionary solidarity to reclaim education as our most powerful tool for justice, equality, and the liberation of all.
-Ends-
ISSUED BY: SADTU Secretariat
CONTACT:
General Secretary, Dr Mugwena Maluleke: 082 783 2968
Deputy General Secretary, Nkosana Dolopi: 082 709 5651
Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi: 082 719 5157