The Congress of the South African Trade Unions rejects the legal threats by the department of Basic Education directed at SADTU ,after the union called on its members to join a picket tomorrow protesting overcrowding, at our township and rural schools. The issues that are being raised by SADTU have an effect on the health of both teachers and learners.

COSATU is calling on all teachers and workers in general to join the SADTU picket tomorrow and push back against the offensive that is currently directed at the teachers union. The federation has concluded that the department of Basic Education is deliberately colluding with those, who have political scores to settle with SADTU. The department has allowed leaks and the misinformation campaign to be used to attack SADTU despite the report of the Ministerial Task Team making it very clear that SADTU as an organization was not found guilty of selling any posts.

We dare the department of Basic Education to stop the SADTU pickets’ tomorrow. COSATU accepts the challenge from the department and we treat them like the enemies they are projecting themselves to be. We will not allow them to render our unions redundant to appease and pacify opposition parties and reactionary civil society organization. An attack on COSATU is an attack on the federation as a whole ,and all COSATU unions and members will close ranks and defend their federation.

Hands of our SADTU!
Hands off our COSATU!

Issued by COSATU