Sadtu splinter union looms

The country's biggest teacher body, the South African Democratic Teachers Union, faces division as moves to form a splinter organisation gain momentum.

Sadtu has 260000 members.

A proposed new union is apparently linked to Sadtu's expelled president Thobile Ntola. Co-ordinators of the splinter union have held meetings with teachers in eight provinces, including Eastern Cape, Ntola's power base.

Ntola is a close ally of union federation Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.

Sadtu North West provincial secretary Lawrence Tsajwa confirmed he had chaired a meeting to discuss forming a new union at Lerato primary school in Hebron, North West, but would not reveal details.

Tsajwa has been suspended from Sadtu since 2012.

"We had delegates from 90 schools in the region. Meetings are held in almost all provinces. All will be known in a few weeks," he said.

An insider who attended the meeting said six North West regions pledged support for a new teachers' union.

"There are 60 Sadtu office bearers who are on suspension because of political factions. If you are perceived as a Ntola supporter, you get suspended," he said.

Ntola, who could not be reached for comment, was expelled from Sadtu in May regarding a R10000 monthly allowance he allegedly received from a service provider.

The allowance is said to have totalled R300000. Ntola was elected Sadtu president in 2008.

Also, an insurance company had allegedly let him and his family live in its R3.5-million property.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said Sadtu was aware of a possible new union.

He said the Sadtu leadership was "unshaken by the organisation of ill-disciplined people". He said people behind the new union had been fired for misconduct. He said complaints of political factionalism were a convenient excuse.

He said: "Is that not hypocrisy? It shows lack of understanding of the role that [they] are [supposed to be] serving to transform society."

Ntola has insisted that he is innocent, claiming he was targeted for supporting Vavi.

Vavi had his share of battles with Cosatu before his suspension from the union was lifted by the Johannesburg high court early this year.