There is a saying that not everyone will like you. Despite that, whoever you are and whatever you do, you will still have people who like and support you. There are no truer words to describe the reality of Siviwe Gwarube, who was recently appointed Basic Education Minister by President Cyril Ramaphosa in the spirit of the Government of National; Unity (GNU).
The ANC performed so poorly at the polls this year that it had to form a GNU alongside other political parties, including the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the Democratic Alliance (DA) of which Siviwe Gwarube is a part, and others.
Siviwe Gwarube took over from Angie Motshekga, who held the basic education portfolio for the past 15 years – a record, as it is half the time the country returned to democratic rule after apartheid.
Anyway, Siviwe Gwarube’s appointment was greeted with misgivings by the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), which is said to be the largest body of teachers in South Africa.
Well, while the SADTU was opposed to Siviwe Gwarube’s appointment to the basic education portfolio, the new minister has got support from other professional bodies, including the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA) and the National Teachers Union (NATU).
Both bodies have reportedly welcomed the new appointment.
