Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic Education. (Photo: Ntswe Mokoena/GCIS)
Siviwe Gwarube, the minister of basic education, has already written to Enoch Godongwana, minister of finance, requesting that the national treasury immediately investigate alleged irregularities in the procurement of textbooks for grade 1 to 3 learners (foundation phase).
News24 reported on Tuesday morning that a publishing house called Lighthouse Publishers has landed a contract worth more than R285 million for the production of textbooks and support materials for grade 1 to 3 learners across the country.
However, questions are now being asked, as the publishing house was registered only three days after the specifications for this contract were issued.
According to the report, the publishing house was also registered just one day before the Department of Basic Education’s formal briefing on the contract requirements.
“These allegations are seriously worrying,” says Gwarube now.
“The delivery of quality educational material to more than 13.7 million learners right across South Africa is at stake.”
The minister also points out that any compromise in the integrity of textbook procurement directly threatens the ability of the education system to function effectively and undermines the constitutional right of every child to access basic education.
“The National Treasury is the legal custodian of procurement compliance. Before taking any further action, I would like to seek the advice of the National Treasury.
“If the treasury’s investigation reveals malpractice, I will not hesitate to take action,” the minister assured on Tuesday morning.