Minister Motshekga denies accusation of targeting SADTU
The Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motshekga has denied allegations made by SADTU, that she is targeting the teacher union, following a preliminary report of a Task Team, appointed to investigate the “Jobs for Cash” allegations currently underway.
The allegations made by SADTU Secretary-General, Mugwena Maluleke against the Minister, if true as reported in the media on Monday 15 February 2016, are not only untrue, but also unfortunate. The Minister does not do investigations, hence an independent Ministerial Task Team was appointed, and has no role to play in its findings.
SADTU should be reminded that the Ministerial Task Team was appointed as strongly recommended by teacher unions. Everyone who was involved at the meetings convened to reflect and discuss the media reports, particularly in the City Press, agreed to the gravity of the Jobs for Cash allegations. It was agreed that those allegations should be investigated. The Minister accepted the string of recommendations from teacher unions to appoint a Ministerial Task Team, instead of requesting the President to appoint a Presidential Commission of inquiry.
What is indisputable is the fact that an investigation on the allegations was to be conducted and a report submitted to the Minister for consideration. An interim report was indeed submitted by the Ministerial Task Team to the Minister and the Council of Education Ministers (CEM). It is therefore unthinkable for Minister to interfere in the work of the Task Team, whose only mandate is to unravel any truth to the allegations of Jobs for Cash.
Enquiries:
Elijah Mhlanga
Cell: 083 580 8275
