It engaged in widespread industrial action in order to achieve recognition, increase wages, and reform inspection procedures.

[5] In April, 2014, City Press reported that SADTU officials were running a racket, which involved accepting monetary bribes from educators in return for access to teaching or managerial positions.

[9] The Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga observed that the investigations implicated primarily SADTU,[10] although other teachers unions and government officials were also involved.

[9] Following the release of the MTT's report, which SADTU had stalled until May, 2016,[15] NAPTOSA, the second-largest teachers union in the country, welcomed the "honest attempt to address a vexing problem" but accused the Volmink team of "union-bashing"; NATU, the third-largest teachers union, found the investigation lacking, and the following year called for a judicial commission of inquiry, which would be able to more substantively investigate the issue due to its judicial powers.

[19] The Economist, characterising South Africa's educational system as "one of the worst in the world", placed the blame on SADTU for "a lack of accountability and the abysmal quality of most teachers".