Students’ organization Cosas has appealed to President Cyril Ramaphosa to immediately replace the Minister of Basic Education, Ms. Siviwe Gwarube, over the issue of school textbooks tender.
This tender is said to be for the preparation of primary school textbooks, the Foundation Phase. There are allegations that one of the companies in Cape Town that was given this job, was established a few days after the tender was issued to grind Grade 1 to Grade 3 books.
Ms Gwarube has written to her colleague at the Ministry of Treasury, Mr Enoch Godongwana, to investigate its release.
Cosas said they want the SIU to investigate this tender.
“We want the President to immediately suspend Ms. Gwarube, and commission the SIU to investigate. We want companies that do work with the Department to be looked at more closely. We want the Department to work with schools to ensure that students get their books,” Cosas said in a statement.
Cosas said that it is disappointed that one of the companies that received the tender, does not have the experience to do this work.
“We see Ms. Gwarube’s efforts to try to confuse the country by saying that Godongwana’s Department wants to investigate this tender. We also see her efforts to portray the DA, which is the party she belongs to, as an innocent party,” said Cosas.
Cosas also blamed the DA for appointing this company that has one black person as a director while the other directors are white.
“We will not fold our hands and watch the students being exploited. If the President does not take action, we will stand up and take action to protect the students. We want every penny in the Ministry to take care of the students’ needs,” Cosas stressed.
Mrs. Gwarube uHe warned that he will take action against those involved if it is found that something was wrong when the tender was issued.
“If the Treasury’s investigation reveals that something went wrong, I will not hesitate to take action against all those involved.”
Media reports indicate that this R1.6 billion tender aimed to strengthen the education base in this country. This company which is said to have received a share in this tender for the milling of these books, would have benefited with R285 million.
The ActionSA group has warned that corruption in the Department is jeopardizing the provision of quality education. The group said it supports the investigation, and said it is necessary to find the truth of the allegations made about this tender.
The DA said it supports the investigation, and expressed concern about the future of students and the corruption committed by department officials. The DA said that if it is found that there is a baboon’s hand, those involved must be dealt with.