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Johannesburg - ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe was heckled on Thursday when he told members of the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) that many of their children were in Model C schools and therefore not affected by their strike.
"During the strike white children in general and Afrikaans children in particular continued to learn," he told Sadtu congress in Boksburg.
"Many of you know this, whose children are in Model C schools. The children of many teachers go to Model C schools. When they (the teachers) go on strike, their children continue to learn."
When Sadtu members refused to allow Mantashe to proceed, union president Thobile Ntola had to intervene.
"Close your mouth, keep quiet... this is a congress, it is a contestation of ideas... can we keep quiet comrades and allow the SG of the ANC to speak?" Ntola said.
"No," Sadtu members replied.
When Mantashe returned to the podium he said he accepted the Sadtu president's apology, even though Ntola had not apologised.
"When comrades heckle me, they want me to express views about them... if that's the issue I would suggest that Sadtu in future does not invite me," Mantashe said to loud applause.
National Union of Metalworkers of SA general secretary Irvin Jim then attempted to intervene by standing up and speaking, but was not allowed to continue.
Ntola again pleaded with members to allow the ANC secretary general to speak.
When Mantashe returned to the podium he told delegates that while they might be angry, they should remember they needed the ANC as much as the ANC needed them.
"We must accept that revolutionary forces in the area of education are in disarray. Therefore the route we have to travel is so very, very long."
He urged Sadtu to make sure its role didn't "vacillate".
"If Sadtu falls into that trap... we are doomed as a country and as a society."
Mantashe said there was a decline in understanding about trade unionism in the country.
"Trade unionism cannot be like warlordism. We must sebenza (work) on the basis of persuasion... of logic... of the power of argument."
It was necessary, Mantashe said, to go back and understand the basics.
Mantashe, the former general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, had 25 years of experience in the trade union movement.
"If you are angry now, you must never cut your nose to spite your face... because remember, next year you are going to negotiate (again)," he said.
Delegates applauded and Ntola rose and apologised to him on the union's behalf. Ntola also apologised to the ANC, trade federation Cosatu and the SACP for the behaviour of Sadtu members.
"During the strike white children in general and Afrikaans children in particular continued to learn," he told Sadtu congress in Boksburg.
"Many of you know this, whose children are in Model C schools. The children of many teachers go to Model C schools. When they (the teachers) go on strike, their children continue to learn."
When Sadtu members refused to allow Mantashe to proceed, union president Thobile Ntola had to intervene.
"Close your mouth, keep quiet... this is a congress, it is a contestation of ideas... can we keep quiet comrades and allow the SG of the ANC to speak?" Ntola said.
"No," Sadtu members replied.
When Mantashe returned to the podium he said he accepted the Sadtu president's apology, even though Ntola had not apologised.
"When comrades heckle me, they want me to express views about them... if that's the issue I would suggest that Sadtu in future does not invite me," Mantashe said to loud applause.
National Union of Metalworkers of SA general secretary Irvin Jim then attempted to intervene by standing up and speaking, but was not allowed to continue.
Ntola again pleaded with members to allow the ANC secretary general to speak.
When Mantashe returned to the podium he told delegates that while they might be angry, they should remember they needed the ANC as much as the ANC needed them.
"We must accept that revolutionary forces in the area of education are in disarray. Therefore the route we have to travel is so very, very long."
He urged Sadtu to make sure its role didn't "vacillate".
"If Sadtu falls into that trap... we are doomed as a country and as a society."
Mantashe said there was a decline in understanding about trade unionism in the country.
"Trade unionism cannot be like warlordism. We must sebenza (work) on the basis of persuasion... of logic... of the power of argument."
It was necessary, Mantashe said, to go back and understand the basics.
Mantashe, the former general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers, had 25 years of experience in the trade union movement.
"If you are angry now, you must never cut your nose to spite your face... because remember, next year you are going to negotiate (again)," he said.
Delegates applauded and Ntola rose and apologised to him on the union's behalf. Ntola also apologised to the ANC, trade federation Cosatu and the SACP for the behaviour of Sadtu members.
