DURBAN - Fresh allegations of the selling of teacher posts by members of the SA Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) in KwaDukuza surfaced after disgruntled members raised the alarm.
A school governing body (SGB) chair and some members of the union with intimate knowledge of the claims alleged that current and former leaders of the union in KwaDukuza were selling posts and were involved in promotional fixing for their preferred teachers who were escalated to powerful positions.
Schools alleged to be affected by Sadtu leaders who were bullying SGBs and interfering with the appointment of suitable candidates for teacher and principal positions included ML Sultan, Tshelinkosi and Guzana secondary in Shakaskraal as well as Tinley Manor and Zilungile primary in Groutville.
A source alleged that in ML Sultan Secondary School, the former regional secretary of Sadtu in Inkosi Albert Luthuli region, Mthembeni Zuma, who was now a director in the KwaDukuza Municipality, was part of a panel interviewing candidates for the principal position when he had no right to be involved in the process.
“Mr Zuma has no business in the school. He is not even a member of the SGB but somehow he was part of the panel interviewing the candidates.
“They treat us badly and bully us like we are not humans when one questions their actions. They always intimidate us and say they will deal with us. I wish the department could investigate this,” the source said.
However, Zuma rubbished the claims and denied that he was on the panel interviewing the candidates.
“I was not part of the panel. I am now a former regional leader and now have no influence over those processes. If I were still involved I would do the right thing as per the rules.”
Contrary to Zuma’s denial, the Daily News enquired with the Department of Education’s chief education specialist in Stanger, Zakes Gumede, who confirmed that Zuma was present, according to the attendance register.
“I am not sure in what capacity he was there, but I can confirm that the attendance register indicates he was on the panel,” said Gumede.
A member of the SGB in another school alleged that she was bullied by a KwaDukuza regional secretary of Sadtu, Nduduzo Ngcobo, who threatened to deal with her if she did not support the candidate pushed by the union.
She said that in the past two weeks, things had been difficult as the appointment and interviews processes were underway. Ngcobo denied the claims and said that although he was not allowed to speak to the media, he knew nothing about the allegations.
“Please contact the provincial leadership of Sadtu to respond on my behalf because I am not allowed to speak to the media,” Ngcobo said.
Another member of Sadtu in Stanger said that the area was in a deep mess because Sadtu had captured all schools.
“They frustrate every process we undertake to interview and hire suitable candidates for the positions of principal and head of departments. If we find a candidate they don’t support, they lodge complaints with the Department of Education and make serious claims against the processes undertaken. They know very well that doing so will allow them to have their own people employed in the positions.”
The provincial spokesperson for Sadtu in KZN, Nomarashiya Caluza, said that claims of the selling of posts and promotional fixing were not true.
“We sent deployees to observe, and we know whenever SGB are caught and questioned about flouting processes they make spurious allegations.”
The Education MEC’s spokesperson, Kwazi Mthethwa, said the allegations needed to be investigated.
“All these damning allegations should be tested during an investigation, but first we must get our facts straight before we can decide whether to investigate.”
Daily News