×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

'Re-open teacher colleges'

CONTENDER: Ronnie Morwatshehla, provincial chairman of Sadtu and Cosatu in Limpopo, is gunning for a second term in office.PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA
CONTENDER: Ronnie Morwatshehla, provincial chairman of Sadtu and Cosatu in Limpopo, is gunning for a second term in office.PHOTO: ELIJAR MUSHIANA

THE reopening of teachers' training colleges and the shortage of classrooms in Limpopo schools will be high on the agenda during the three-day South African Teachers' Union elective conference to start in Limpopo today.

Sadtu yesterday said the conference, which would run for three days at the Bolivia Lodge outside Polokwane, would discuss the welfare of teachers, the learning environment and the reopening of teachers' training colleges.

Union provincial secretary George Modumela said the union was concerned about the shortage of teachers in the province's schools, which he said affected learning and teaching.

The union is going into the conference divided.

Six regions - Sekhukhune, Vhembe, Mopani, Capricorn, Waterberg and Western - are divided over the leadership position between provincial chairman Ronny Morwatshehla and long-serving western regional chairman Peter Maphoto.

Political analyst Elvis Masoga said the conference was a precusor to a showdown that is expected at the ANC's conference in December.

"Any national or provincial elective conference of any government entity, including Sadtu, will set the tone of the provincial elective conference of the ANC because contenders are obviously leaders in their own right in the branches of the tripartite alliance.

"So whoever emerges victorious in the conference will help steer the sheep for either pro or anti Mathale forces to win the ANC conference in December this year," Masoga said.

Morwatshehla and Maphoto have allegedly been nominated by branches in the six regions to compete for the position of union chairman.

Morwatshehla, a known ANC provincial chairman and his ally, Premier Cassel Mathale, who is also the provincial chairman of Cosatu, have the support of four regions in Limpopo.

The regions are Mopani, Sekhukhune, Vhembe and Waterberg while Maphoto has the support of a splinter group from Capricorn and western region, Sowetan was told.

"I am willing to stand for nomination if approached by branches. But I've never been formally approached to stand for nomination," Maphoto said.

Morwatshehla, on the other hand, said he was ready to continue leading the union for a second term as provincial chairman.

"As part of the deployment, my dream is to serve and champion the working class people with precision and distinction for the next three years," he said.

Sadtu provincial secretary, George Modumela said the conference would, among other things, discuss the shortage of teachers in Limpopo schools, which is hampering the union's ambition to deliver quality education, and the reopening of teachers' training colleges.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.