Press Statement dated 12 November 2018
The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has welcomed findings contained in the Report of a six months forensic investigation into the activities of the Suid- Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU) by Judge Willem Hartzenberg Judge Willem Hartzenberg. The SAOU is an affiliate of FEDUSA in the basic education sector. The Report clears the SAOU leadership of any financial misconduct or undemocratic practices as had been alleged by some union members.
SAOU National Executive Committee (NEC) commissioned Judge Hartzenberg and a team of auditors and law practitioners to conduct a forensic investigation into the veracity or otherwise of claims made by these members that the union’s leadership was involved in some financial mismanagement, self- enrichment and electioneering conduct that was in breach of SAOU’s Constitution and democratic guidelines.
“Allegations against the senior management of the Union which included mismanagement and self-enrichment were rejected in their entirety by Judge Hartzenberg and his team, and it was emphasised that all the processes followed by the SAOU are consistent with applicable prescripts, including those of the Labour Relations Act, the King reports and the Constitution of the SAOU. It was also emphasised that the audited statements of the SAOU, which were forensically analysed, have never been qualified,” says FEDUSA General Secretary Dennis George.
“The procedures for the election of elected leaders were intensely scrutinised. The finding is that the election of persons into governance positions is democratic, and that no suspicion attaches to the manner of their election”.
The findings assure all SAOU member that their Union affairs are still in safe and competent hands and provides the SAOU with a reliable basis for those actions which are considered necessary to deal with the irresponsible and unfounded allegations which have been made by a few members, concluded George. Issued by Dennis George, General Secretary, Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa)