About

HISTORY

Where We Started

NAPTOSA was registered by the Registrar of Labour Relations as a Trade Union on 1 November 2006 and is the second largest union in the education sector.

Any education sector employee in the Republic of South Africa is eligible for membership of the Union, whether employed in terms of the Employment of Educators Act,1998; the Public Service Act, 1994; by a School Governing Body or by a private school.

NAPTOSA enjoys all the rights of a trade union and is a party to the Public Service Co-ordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) where salaries and conditions of service of general application for the whole public service are negotiated (e.g. general salary increases, pensions, medical assistance, housing, etc.), as well as the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC) where matters specific to the education sector are negotiated. In the latter, NAPTOSA, together with SAOU, NATU, PEU, PSA and HOSPERSA, operate under the name of the Combined Trade Union of Autonomous Teachers’ Unions (CTU-ATU).

NAPTOSA’s aim and purpose is to provide a member-centered, efficient and professional service to its members through a corps of more than 80 employees across the country.

NAPTOSA provides an effective communications service to members, offers cutting-edge Professional Development Programmes; employs professional staff to deal with members’ queries and labour matters and has a wide range of structures and forums (Branches, Portfolio Committees, Phase and Principals’ Forums, Conferences etc.) for members to participate in. The union has a dedicated desk at national level to deal with the LSEN and TVET College sectors.

NAPTOSA prides itself on the fact that it is the only education sector union that is truly representative of the demographics of our country. Our strength lies in the diversity of our members. We are bound by a common commitment to professionalism and to educating the youth of South Africa.

If we stand accused of being inclusive, then we are happy to plead guilty!

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Our Purpose

We protect and maintain the rights, status and interests of our members

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Our Service

We render an effective service to and on behalf of its members

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Education

Promote a system of education which focuses on the individual learner

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Development

We promote the development of members through workshops and seminars, etc

Our Principles

NAPTOSA is committed to the following principles:

The inalienable right of every child and student to quality education within an equitable and non-discriminatory system of education;
A high level of professionalism from all education sector employees; and
The enhancement of all aspects of the working life of education sector employees

In order to achieve the above this national union shall be

non-discriminatory on the basis of colour, language, gender, religion, ethnic origin, social class, birth, political or other convictions, or disabilities or other natural or cultural characteristics;
independent, autonomous and party politically non-aligned;
guided by the respect for fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa including the Bill of Rights; and
inclusive of all like-minded education sector employees

Objectives

The Union is a voluntary association of members, not for gain, that aims to promote, protect and maintain the rights, status and interests of its members and advance quality education in South Africa, for purposes of which the Union shall…

Promote a system of education that is non-discriminatory with regard to colour, language, gender, religion, ethnicity, origin, social class, birth, political or other convictions, disabilities, natural or cultural characteristics;
Promote a system of education which focuses on the needs of the individual learner;
Strive for an equitable system of education in South Africa which will satisfy the needs and aspirations of all its people;
Strive for the establishment and the maintenance of effective compulsory education;
Strive for the establishment and the maintenance of free public education;
Assert the professional responsibility of educators to guide pupils and students in their care in the universal pursuit of knowledge and skills and in the development of full creative potential so that they may become responsible and self-supporting citizens of a democratic state;
Ensure that the interests of learners are in no way prejudiced by any act or omission on the part of employees, whilst affirming the fundamental right of employees to strike;
Render an effective service to and on behalf of its Members;
Contribute to the development of all education legislation and all aspects of education policy and planning;

Strive to maintain and enhance effective consultation, advisory, collective negotiating and bargaining mechanisms and structures for the organised teaching profession;
Support a professional body which is responsible for the registration of educators, the promotion of professional development of educators and the maintenance of a code of conduct;
Co-operate with parents, communities and other bodies in the quest for excellence in education;
Promote effective involvement and interaction at local, regional, provincial, national and international levels;
Obtain and disseminate relevant information;
Promote the development of members by means of workshops, seminars and conferences;
Assume financial responsibility for a fund or funds to be applied in the achievement of the objectives stated above, and to take any action to raise or obtain funds;
Provide a collective voice in the pursuance of its aims and objectives including, but not limited to, continual evaluation and enhancement of legislation affecting education and education sector employees, as circumstances may require;
Do all things necessary for the furtherance and achievement of any or all of the above objectives and in general serve the best interests of the Union, its members and its provincial structures.

Our Leadership

The success of NAPTOSA (Since 1996), cannot be celebrated without the leadership that provided us with guidance:

Thabo Manne

PRESIDENT

Nkosiphendule Ntantala

DEPUTY PRESIDENT, 5TH PAST PRESIDENT, 6TH PAST PRESIDENT

Rene Marnce

VICE PRESIDENT

Basil Manuel

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THIRD PAST PRESIDENT

Dr Anthea Cereseto

FOURTH PAST PRESIDENT

Ezra Ramasehla

SECOND PAST PRESIDENT

Dave Balt

FIRST PAST PRESIDENT

Henry Hendricks

PAST EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Select your closest office

Please direct your enquiry directly to your Provincial Office. Select your Province on the right and get the Provincial Office contact details and address