Programme Director
Deputy Ministers
MEC for Education
Members of the media
Ladies and gentlemen
Thank you so much for your time and kindly accept our sincere apologies for keeping you here while we were concluding our meeting.
Our briefing to you here today is to summarise all processes that have taken place thus far, so as to bring you up to date.
Following a Cabinet decisions pertaining to the full implementation of the section 100(1)(b) intervention in the Eastern Cape Education Department (ECED), and the High Court Order of 20 March 2012, the Minister of Basic Education, accompanied by the Deputy Ministers whose Ministries are involved in the 5-a-side MINMEC Task Team, visited the Eastern Cape to work with the province on processes related to the full implementation of the section 100(1)(b) intervention in the Eastern Cape Education Department.
- On 6 to 7 December 2011, the five Deputy Ministers from the Ministries involved in the 5-by-5 MINMEC Task Team visited the Eastern Cape to conduct a comprehensive monitoring, oversight and evaluation exercise of the section 100(1)(b) intervention in the ECED.
- On 1 February 2012, the 5-by-5 MINMEC Task Team met to receive and deliberate on the Monitoring, Oversight and Evaluation Report of the Deputy Ministers. The MINMEC Task Team agreed with the report and recommendations and that the Report should be presented to the Honourable President and Cabinet.
- On 18 April 2012, Cabinet reaffirmed that the intervention in the ECED must be implemented in terms of section 100(1) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996. Cabinet approved the Monitoring, Oversight and Evaluation Report and its recommendations; and further reaffirmed that the Minster of Basic Education, assisted by the task team of Deputy Ministers, is mandated to oversee the full implementation of the section 100(1) (b) intervention in the ECED.
Cabinet strongly emphasised that the stabilisation and normalisation of the ECED must be prioritised to give effect to the Cabinet decision and recommendations that were approved, a structure comprising dedicated intervention teams from the national and provincial departments was constituted.
- On the 24 April 2012, The Ministry met with the Premier of the province and later a meeting of the political task was convened to assess developments that have taken place.
- The Ministry, this morning, accompanied by the political task team of Deputy Ministers and senior officials from the Department of Basic Education, Department for Public Service and Administration, National Treasury, Department of Higher Education and Training, as well as the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, held a meeting to set in motion processes for the full implementation of the section 100(1) (b) intervention in the ECED.
- All teams were introduced and the frame of work, timeframes and expected outcomes were outlined to the officials of the national and provincial intervention teams, including the Senior Management of the Eastern Cape Department of Education. The teams were given 14 days to provide the Minister with a detailed action plan.
- The intervention task teams will continue to implement all directives from Cabinet.
The Ministry also announced a three person Intervention Team, to be led by Mr Ray Tywakadi, who is currently with the Australian Embassy and is the former Head of the Mpumalanga Department of Education. Other team members are Mr Phillip Benade, former Chief Financial Officer of the erstwhile Department of Education, and Dr Anis Karodia, former Head of the North West Department of Education who is currently the Head of the Section 100(1)(b) Intervention Unit in the Limpopo Education Department. The Eastern Cape will submit the name of the fourth person from the province.
We are pleased to stress that there is a renewed and unequivocal commitment towards a shared vision towards quality education.
I thank you.
