Interunion rivalries are a blot on worker solidarity

This weekend is a sad time for trade unionism in South Africa. In what is likely to be a major demonstration of union solidarity, but also of anger, fear and sadness, the National Teachers' Trade Union (Natu) will bury two murdered members in Jozini near Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal. Both were shot, execution style, in the back of their heads on March 14.

But unlike Colombia - still the most dangerous place on earth to be a trade unionist - these assassinations were not the work of state- or company-sponsored death squads. Charged with the killings are three men, one of them a senior local member of the rival SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu).

Hlokohloko primary school principal Anton Mathenjwa, Bhekani Gumede and Thulani Qwabe have been charged with the murder of Mathenjwa's deputy, Philile Mthenjane, and school head of department Phindile Ntuli. Both were Natu activists and Mthenjane was her union's regional chairman. The three appeared in the Empangeni magistrate's court and have been remanded to April 2.

With tempers near boiling point, police have attempted to defuse the situation by stating that the killings appear not to have been the result of interunion rivalry. The two Natu members were apparently investigating alleged fraud and corruption at the school. However, neither this statement nor news of the circumstances surrounding the killings has eased tensions. This is hardly surprisingly as the two unions have been at loggerheads in KwaZulu-Natal for years. Natu has the overwhelming bulk of the 29 000 members in KwaZulu-Natal affiliated to the Federation of Unions of SA. As such, it is the dominant rival to Cosatu-affiliated Sadtu.

At Hlokohloko, the membership appears to have been evenly divided between Natu and Sadtu. In the wake of the killings, many Natu members maintain there is a "hit list" of their activists. They point to the fact that, before her disappearance and death, Mthenjane reported receiving threats. She also informed the union office that a member of Sadtu had warned her that some union rivals had resolved that she and Ntuli be "eliminated".

There isn't any evidence of the existence of a hit list nor of more widespread death threats. However, there is evidence of discrimination at the hands of the education department. Natu general secretary Elium Biyela says: "Many Sadtu members say that we don't exist; that the government knows this and that Natu members will not get promotions."

Evidence of discrimination emerged in a labour court case brought last year by Natu where it was admitted that 22 of the 24 members of a department-appointed educational assessment team were Sadtu members. The apparent initial tardiness of the police investigation into the murders this month also added to the swirl of allegation and rumour. This was encouraged by the fact that it was only after Natu hired a private investigator that a breakthrough was made.

Says Biyela: "For a week, nothing happened. Our members had simply disappeared and there were no leads." In frustration, the union paid a private detective. "Within two days, he had produced the evidence. The men were arrested and the bodies found," says Biyela.

The union has placed all its evidence on a DVD that was handed yesterday to Fedusa general secretary Dennis George with instructions to bring it to Cape Town where the trade union leaders will meet this morning. Senior delegations from Cosatu, Fedusa and the National Council of Trade Unions are meeting before a two-day bilateral with President Thabo Mbeki and senior members of the cabinet.

Although the matter of the KwaZulu-Natal murders is not on the formal agenda of the presidential trade union working group meeting, it is certain to be discussed along with the murder last month of two non-striking bus drivers.

Says George: "Democracy is about tolerance. The message that murder, intimidation and violence is not acceptable must reach not just the leadership, but right down to the factory floor, to the regions and nationally."

Cosatu president Willie Madisha, who also heads Sadtu, agrees. "This sort of thing is totally unacceptable and it also plays into the hands of the enemies of the labour movement."

Madisha has now placed the issue of violence and unity among unions on to the agenda for a "presidential summit" of combined teacher trade unions, scheduled for April 16. Natu president Sipho Ngcobo has indicated that he will be there.

As a number of the union leaders see it, the finest way of honouring Mthenjane and Ntuli would be to ensure that their deaths act as a catalyst for tolerance and unity among union members.

Says George: "That is what we must hope for, and it will mean getting rid of some of the bad elements that have sheltered in some unions."