Even though 100 days have passed since President Cyril Ramapahosa’s government of national unity (GNU) was formed, black trade unions still reject the coalition government.
South Africans have long accepted the GNU’s reality and seem impressed by the performance of some departments under the new executive.
Sport, Arts, and Culture minister Gayton McKenzie and Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber have been public darlings for revitalising their departments.
But not everyone is joining the GNU celebrations, with the South African Communist Party and unions under the umbrella of the Congress of SA Trade Unions still outside the tent.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile tried to quell concerns about the GNU during his address to the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) at its 10th national congress in Boksburg.
“I know that at the beginning of the GNU, there was a lot of concern that some of the partners with us … don’t want workers,” he said. “We are aware of that and there was a worry that some of them might try to use the GNU to reverse the gains that workers have achieved over time.
“I want to say on behalf of the ANC, over our dead body. That will never happen. We will defend the gains of the workers of this country to the end. We have to do that and we will be watching them with a hawk’s eye.”
The nearly 2,000 delegates are meeting because Basic Education minister Siviwe Gwarube warned that budget cuts have created a R118-billion funding shortfall in the education sector.
Sadtu is unhappy about the freezing of teacher posts, the non-renewal of temporary posts, and a higher learner to teacher ratio in classes.
Pictured above: Deputy president Paul Mashatile addressing the 10th national congress of teacher’s union Sadtu.
