Jobs for Cash: SADTU has no respect for black children

09 May 2016

In its most recent statement on the ‘Jobs for Cash’ report, SADTU accuses the DA of having no respect for black leaders.

The reality is that the SADTU leadership has no respect for black children.

After all, it is poor, mainly black, children who suffer when teaching posts are sold by SADTU members to SADTU members for R 30 000 each.

It is poor, mainly black, children who make up the majority of learners in the six provincial education departments captured by SADTU.

And it is poor, mainly black, children who lose out when SADTU members stay away from school for months on end.

When we were on oversight in KwaZulu-Natal in February, a provincial official recounted how SADTU members drop their children off at former Model C schools in the morning and then go on strike for the day, depriving poor, mainly black, children of schooling. 

He memorably described this as “the highest level of cruelty.”

Now that the net is closing in on its bribery and corruption racket, SADTU is trying desperately to smear anybody on the side of truth and justice.

The DA's only interest in the release of the ‘Jobs for Cash’ report is to hold SADTU accountable for its role in violating the rights of poor, mainly black, children. 

SADTU can rant and rave as much as it likes, but the fact is that SADTU is to blame for the deterioration of education in the last few years. 

Instead of flinging mud, we suggest SADTU owns up to the corruption in its ranks and announces a plan to deal harshly with those implicated in selling teaching posts.

The DA will not be intimidated by SADTU. We will keep up pressure for the release of the 'Jobs for Cash' report because it is our duty is to protect the rights of children, not to protect corrupt SADTU members.

Statement issued by Gavin Davis MP, DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education, 9 May 2016