Statement by Desiree van der Walt MP – DA Spokesperson on Basic Education:
The Democratic Alliance (DA) backs the actions of the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, who has taken decisive action today calling for a Treasury investigation into the approval of a service provider for textbooks, headquartered at a residential property in Simonstown.
The DA is deeply concerned about how this places at stake the supply of education materials to 13,7 million learners; whose futures should not under any circumstances be compromised by corrupt individuals.
Young children in our schools deserve quality books and materials, so that they get the best education possible. And the DA will fight for the best quality books possible, because we believe that early phase learning is the foundation of good education.
Treasury is the legal custodian of compliance with procurement regulations, in tenders such as this. Treasury is therefore the right entity to look into the proposal and bid from this supplier, and the process to approve it as a supplier of textbooks.
How this supplier, with no track record of textbook production or delivery, made it through the process must be probed by Treasury so that Minister Gwarube can identify who is responsible.
If malfeasance by any officials, or proximity to any officials is uncovered, the full might of the law must be carried out.
It cannot be that government officials see the ways of doing business under the Government of National Unity, as the same today as they were under ANC-led governments of the past.
