Sadtu: DA's visit to its office 'a stunt'
The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has hit back at the Democratic Alliance's (DA) proposed visit to the union’s offices on Thursday morning – labelling it as “unwarranted”.
The DA wants Sadtu to join its call to declare teaching an essential service.
Sadtu has however described the move as politicking by the opposition.
Sadtu's Nomusa Cembi says the DA's visit is not genuine, nor does it carry the interest of education at its core.
"We believe it has to do with politicking. First of all, they did not give us due respect by sending a notice if the meeting," says Cembi.
She adds the party sent a media alert of the meeting without informing the union.
Cembi says since the DA never made a proper meeting request, the party will not be allowed to enter their Kempton Park offices by force.
"It is another stunt by the DA, which is aimed at hitting at the ANC."
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However, the DA's Gauteng Shadow MEC of Basic Education, Khume Ramulifho, says the call by the party is to declare teaching as an essential service.
Ramulifho adds the move by the party has nothing to do with politicking.
"It is not a political thing, that is why we want to talk to them so that we can engage at that level," says Ramulifho.
He dismissed claims by Sadtu that the party did not inform the union of the visit.
"We did inform them that we will be visiting them and they informed us that their senior office-bearer will not be around, but will send someone to receive us."
Ramulifho hopes that the teachers’ union will approach the meeting with an open mind.
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