Sadtu is shielding GBV-accused teacher, says DA

'Department, union paying lip service to fight against abuse'

- By Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

Annerie Weber

The DA has accused the Mpumalanga Department of Education and the South African Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) of paying lip service to the fight against gender-based violence by protecting one of their own instead of the victim.

At the centre of the scandal is Bheki Nkosi, the union's South Highveld regional secretary, who was arrested in Bethal on May 29 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and fellow teacher, Nqobile Sihlangu.

What began as a romance between two colleagues collapsed into a case of violence and intimidation that threatens to expose the hypocrisy of the education sector's leadership.

Nkosi was initially denied bail and spent weeks behind bars in the Bethal police cells. On June 26, the Evander Magistrate's Court granted him bail of R2 000 under the strict conditions of a protection order barring him from contacting Sihlangu.

Yet DA member of the Mpumalanga legislature Annerie Weber stated this week that Nkosi violated the protection order while still in custody by harassing Sihlangu over the phone.