The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) on Saturday called for changes to be considered in the tripartite alliance to give the South African Communist Party (SACP) a stronger role, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reports.
The union, which is the country’s second largest, held its national congress at Midrand, north of Johannesburg, this week.
Sadtu passed a resolution calling for the strengthening of the alliance, but also for its possible restructuring. It called for the alliance to be presided over by the SACP rather than the African National Congress (ANC).
However, this would be subject to the ANC ceasing to treat the SACP and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) like minnows, according to the report.
Other resolutions involved rejecting the current state of black economic empowerment, which Sadtu said is not serving the poor and the working class, and calling for a review of the power of the Presidency in the government.
Sadtu further pledged to support its president, Willie Madisha, at the Cosatu congress in two weeks’ time. Madisha is also president of Cosatu.
There have been reports of tension between Madisha and Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi.
At the Sadtu congress this week, Madisha confirmed that there were differences but said their working relationship was intact. — Sapa