---
title: "In photos: Sadtu march to the Union Buildings"
description: "Streets briefly came to a standstill on Wednesday as the South African Democratic Teachers Union marched to the Union Buildings. GREG NICOLSON was there with his camera."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "South Africa"
author: "Greg Nicolson"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/gregnicolson/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2013-04-25-in-photos-sadtu-march-to-the-union-buildings/"
published: "2013-04-25T02:03:51"
updated: "2021-03-18T07:37:04"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 251
---

# In photos: Sadtu march to the Union Buildings

> Streets briefly came to a standstill on Wednesday as the South African Democratic Teachers Union marched to the Union Buildings. GREG NICOLSON was there with his camera.

By Greg Nicolson · Published 25 April 2013, 04:03 SAST · Updated 18 March 2021, 09:37 SAST

## Content

Sadtu members gathered in Pretoria to march against the continued employment of Minister of Basic Education and her Director General Bobby Soobrayan. The union blames the pair for terminating a 2011 collective bargaining agreement improving wages for exam-related work. Teachers speaking to Daily Maverick blamed Motshekga for the poor state of education and lack of resources in the schools.

The march, with numbers above 5,000, passed a school where children ran to see the excitement. Sadtu said most schools remained open while only shop stewards attended the march. Speaking later, the Department of Basic Education said a number of schools were affected, with the most closing in North West.

Photo: Closer the final destination, the unionists started to run, hard work in the sun.

Photo: Cosatu President S’dumo Dlamini wipes sweat off his forehead after a fast march up the hill towards the Union Buildings.

Photo: Sadtu members initially marched right up to the home of the presidency when they arrived, but then retreated to hear their leaders speak in the Union Buildings’ gardens.

Photo: Union members sit in the trees of the Union Buildings’ gardens.

Photo: Cosatu General Secretary Zwelinzima Vavi spoke before the march started. He said this wasn’t just about a collective bargaining agreement, but improving the public education system so that students can get the education they need.

Photo: “Woman, we bought you false teeth,” read one placard directed at Motshekga. **DM**

*Main photo: The march stretches out down Pretoria’s Struben Street. All photos by Greg Nicolson.*