It focused on increasing wages, and encouraging teachers to obtain higher qualifications.
In 1973, it became the first South African union to affiliate to the World Confederation of Organizations of the Teaching Profession.
However, it was increasingly seen as close to the Government of South Africa, and was opposed by many younger teachers.
In 1976, its offices were destroyed in an arson attack, blamed on anti-apartheid activists.
[1][2] The union participated in the 1990 negotiations which formed the South African Democratic Teachers Union, but instead affiliated to the loose National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA).