Chair of the session – Cde Mabutho Cele,
SADTU Leadership & Structures as led by Cde Maluleke & Cde Maphila,
SADTU SC – Cde Xolani Dube and collective,
SASCO DSG Cde Vezi Simelane,
COSATU Leadership and all its affiliates,
SACP GS Cde Solly Mapaila,
ANC President Cde Cyril Ramaphosa,
COSAS SG Cde Tebogo Magafane,
NASGB Leadership,
Government representatives both DBE & DHET led by Minister Angie & Minister Blade,
Progressive International Unions and Organizations present,Importantly Delegates to this National General Council,Receive fraternal greetings from the 21st National Executive Committee of the South AfricanStudents Congress (SASCO) on behalf of the entire membership of this revolutionary student
movement, an allay to the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU). We must express our
gratitude to have been invited to this important gathering which is convened to evaluate the state of
the union and equally chant a way forward for this revolutionary Union as our country and its
economy are at its worst because of many factors which have contributed to its fall such as the
pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict who’s impact we continue to feel.

Comrade Chair, we are convened here under the theme which reads “Claiming our right to have our
human dignity and safety protected and respected in pursuit of a decolonised quality public
education” this theme is indeed refreshing and a serious sign of commitment that education
remains the only tool we have at our disposal to wage the struggle against poverty and inequality
but also we must say Nobhala that when we received the invitation and at the top of your letter we
couldn’t help but notice the note which says, “Restore the character of SADTU as a Union of
Revolutionary Professionals, Agents of Change and Champions of People’s Education for People’s
Power in pursuit of Socialism.” We are delighted that SADTU remains committed to the struggle to
advance the People’s Education for People’s Power as envisaged, as SASCO we continue to make the
call for a “Single coordinated Higher Education Sector” in our country and we know that when
socialism arrives this is possible hence, we are happy that SADTU remains committed to the struggle
for socialism in our lifetime.

Chair, we must make it clear that Teachers remain the main producers of kinds of professionals that
we get to experience therefore they are “Revolutionary Agents of Change, Access and Success” andtheir role remains critical in society so when we see people mocking this profession we worry aboutthose people because it means they lack serious grasp of the importance of this profession and undermine the sacrifices which yourselves as teachers make because today in South Africa to be a
Teacher means you must also be a Security guard of kids who are ill-mannered and possibly a violent
hooligan, hence we find your theme very relevant and a clear indication of the current state of
classroom and a show of commitment regardless.

We want to say to this National General Council of SADTU, that as the South African Students
Congress (SASCO) we remain an ally of SADTU and we shall continue fostering that these two
organizations to play their critical roles especially at spaces at which we organize and the unity of
SASCO & SADTU must exist beyond personalities at the helm of the organizations nor must any
organization be offended at a way in which one organization view matters of interest within the
higher education sector so there must never at any point that SASCO is found within SADTU
squabbles with its sister unions because SASCO must maintain its revolutionary stance of working
with all education alliance partners at all material times.

As we prepare for our 22nd National Congress we hope to have full participation of SADTU and even
the new leadership will be given mandate to ensure that SADTU and SASCO have programmatic
relations and programs together beyond just resources and messages of supports in one’s
gatherings.

Comrade President and GS, we wish this National General Council fruitful engagements and
progressive resolutions. The country is surely awaiting to hear what comes out of this gathering and
off late gatherings of the Mass Democratic Movement are smeared by controversy and nothing
progressive which restores hope and confidence to our people. We need to unite the MDM and
ensure that we indeed recapture the imagination of all ordinary citizens and further restore hope
that indeed the Mass Democratic Movement can still deal decisively with high unemployment rates,
end poverty and deliver the necessary equality which all deserve as we march to socialism in our
lifetime.

A teacher must not doubt when the union goes to represent them either at a Disciplinary Case or at
Bargaining Council but they must be happy because their beacon of hope and their shield has indeed
arrive and shall stop at nothing but fight for them to get what is right, and all of this will be achieved
through a clear political program guided by the NDR and by also electing credible leadership that is
committed to serve, sacrifice, and suffer to the betterment of South Africa and her people.

Comrade Chair as the South African Students Congress (SASCO) we wish to take this time and say
that we wish you all the best, therefore allow us to borrow from Mao when he said, “Let a hundred
flowers bloom: Let a hundred schools of thought contend.”
I thank you,
Amandla!