A Port Elizabeth school is livid with its absent principal, who is well enough to punt a new union but is yet to show up at school.

Disgruntled union leaders are working to form a new federation after the expulsion of Numsa, Cosatu’s largest affiliate.

Expelled and suspended members of the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union have resolved to form a trade union open to all public sector workers.

Suspended teacher union members insist their removal ahead of key conferences is a ploy by a Cosatu faction.

Sadtu’s call to members to examine their role in delivering education is a sea change in attitude.

Thobile Ntola, the president of Sadtu, criticised the info Bill publicly without debating it within the teachers’ union, leaders say.

The president of Sadtu has faced weeks of conflict, violence and condemnation, but remains committed to furthering working-class interests.

The DA on Monday renewed its call for teaching to be declared an essential service and urged teachers belonging to Sadtu to resign from the union.

One of Sadtu’s most militant leaders, Ronald Nyathi, has indicated that the teacher’s strike could be soon be over because his region has accepted the state’s revised wage offer.

Signs of a split in unions’ response to government’s latest wage offer emerged on Tuesday, with Sadtu suggesting they could reject the offer.

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) elected Thobile Ntola as president in Pretoria on Wednesday, the union said.