The Presidency has noted ongoing media reports on the Limpopo debacle and wishes to reiterate that President Jacob Zuma is prioritising the matter as education is an apex priority for government and also for the President personally.
We reiterate as well, that the President directed that there should be consequences for anyone found responsible for any wrongdoing that led to the delays in the delivery of books.
The President, having received a preliminary report, now awaits the final one from the Presidential task team led by the Deputy Minister of Finance Mr Nhlanhla Nene.
He is dealing with the matter systematically and thoroughly, putting the interests of education and the children first.
The President is also looking for long-term lasting solutions. In this regard, he has directed the Ministry that while completing the current delivery process, they should also work with the National Treasury and the province to ensure that adequate resources are made available and planning is done for the timeous procurement and delivery of next year's textbooks in Limpopo and other provinces.
Another problem that has to be solved is the gap that exists with regards to the implementation of Section 100 constitutional interventions in the provinces. There is no law that outlines exactly how this should be done.
To remedy the situation, government has introduced the Monitoring, Support and Intervention Bill to regulate the national interventions.
The Presidency and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs are prioritising the finalisation of this crucial legislation as directed by the President early this month.
The President also directed that while the legislation is being finalised, a special protocol must be developed to manage relations between the spheres and ensure that service delivery is not affected. This is also being worked on.
We wish to assure the public that the Limpopo education matter is being attended to at the highest level, given the fact that education is an apex priority of government. The President will not rest until he gets to the bottom of the crisis and finds lasting solutions, working with his Cabinet who feel equally strongly about the need to ensure that this does not recur.
Enquiries:
Mac Maharaj
Cell: 079 879 3203
E-mail: macmaharaj@mweb.co.za/ mediaenquiries@po.gov.za
