Brenda Zanele Mbatha
Mrs. Brenda Zanele Mbatha, warmly known as “Ndaba,” is a distinguished leader and respected stalwart of the National Teachers’ Union. Since beginning her journey as an unqualified teacher in 1986, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educational excellence and the advancement of teachers’ rights. From her early training at KwaGqikazi College of Education to her permanent appointment at Mfanefile Primary School in 1994, Mrs. Mbatha has remained steadfast in her mission to empower educators and promote a more equitable, personalised, and inclusive education system for teachers and learners across South Africa.
With nearly four decades of dedicated service, she has held several strategic leadership positions within NATU. She currently serves as Vice President for Professional Matters, having previously served as Vice President for Recruitment, Statistics, and Retention since 2016. At regional level, she provided visionary leadership as Acting Chairperson and Organiser A of the North Coast Region, earning the affectionate title of “Godmother” to the Eshowe and Mthunzini branches for her mentorship and guidance. She also served as Branch Secretary and Convenor for Socio-cultural Activities in the Ntonjaneni Branch.
Renowned for her expertise in foundational education and assessment, Vice President Mbatha has made significant contributions to national education policy. In 2011, she was deployed by NATU’s Central Executive Board to represent the union in the development of the Foundation Phase Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS). She subsequently conducted extensive training workshops across all nine provinces. She continues to play a key role in teacher professional development by collaborating with the NATU Teacher Development Institute and Professor Imenda on Assessment for Learning programmes, coordinating NATU’s participation in the Department of Basic Education’s Teacher Union Collaboration (TUC) initiatives, and representing the union on the National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and the Provincial Teacher Education Development Committee.
A compelling advocate for educators, Mrs. Mbatha also extends her influence to the international stage. She served with distinction as a member of the South African Council for Educators (SACE) from 2021 to 2025 and is an active participant in African Federation of Teachers’ Associations (AFTRA) conferences, where she has presented well-received research papers in Zambia and Angola. Through her recruitment and organisational efforts, she has substantially strengthened NATU’s membership base through targeted school visits, member support, and the promotion of professional development resources.
