Message of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union on the 112th anniversary of the ANC
8 January 2024
The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) joins the rest of South Africa in wishing the country’s ruling party - the African National Congress (ANC) well on its 112th anniversary. Formed on this day (8 January) in 1912 in Bloemfontein, the ANC is the oldest liberation movement in the world.
As a union in the education sector, SADTU owes its being to the ANC who, at the height of apartheid regime in the 1980s, played a critical role in convening teacher organisations from South Africa who were divided along racial and ethnic lines and brought them to Zimbabwe to talk unity leading to signing of the Harare Declaration which led to the process of forming a non-racial, non-sexist, unitary and democratic teachers’ union in South Africa that is SADTU today.
The year 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the country’s democratic breakthrough led by the ANC. It is also in the same year when the country will be holding its seventh democratic elections. We celebrate the efforts the ANC has made to change the lives of South Africans for the better, but we need to reflect on the challenges the country still confronts. Inequality, unemployment, rising levels of crime and a stagnant economy reminds us to work harder in defense of the freedom the ANC fought so hard for the country to attain.
However, despite the challenges, SADTU believes the ANC-led government has made critical inroads in ensuring quality and access to education to all in South Africa. We have also seen immense positive changes in the labour front since 1994 when the ANC took over. Workers now have a voice and platforms where they engage with the employer. We reaffirm our support for the ANC in the upcoming elections as we believe it is the only organisation that has a history of delivering even though there are challenges.
We fully support the tripartite alliance-led ANC election manifesto renewal process which had involved communities.
We know that our labour rights will be destroyed, and all our gains will be reversed by the regime change forces. We must never allow those who want to restore racism and white supremacy in our country. SADTU is therefore alert and standing ready and firm in defense of public education and collective bargaining and only the ANC has pro-workers policies.
Happy 112th anniversary to the ANC! Khula ANC!
Issued by Nomusa Cembi, Media Officer, 8 January 2024
