Education appoints new head Kojana
SG now controls 45% of EC budget
EASTERN Cape’s education department has a new head – Themba Kojana. The new superintendent-general is now in charge of the R31-billion budget, which amounts to 45% of the province’s total purse.
Kojana was previously the deputy director-general (DDG) responsible for teachers, education human resources and institutional development at the national Basic Education Department.
He was short-listed along with national Higher Education Department DDG of corporate management services Lulama Mbobo, following the submission of 26 applications for the job.
He replaces Mthunywa Ngonzo, whom education MEC Mandla Makupula suspended in June 2014 on charges related to allegations of mismanagement of a R46-million school furniture tender.
The tender was awarded to 14 companies but the Bhisho High Court set it aside in March 2014 after it ruled the tender had been awarded irregularly and unlawfully.
But Ngonzo challenged his suspension in court and won.
Subsequently he resigned last year after a settlement was reached.
Siza Netshilaphala has been acting SG since Nomber last year.
She has since moved back to provincial treasury her original position of employment.
Makupula, however, refused to discuss details of why Kojana stood out from the pool of applications, and what the new incumbent would prioritise.
The department failed to spend more than R500-million earmarked for school infrastructure in the past financial year, even though some pupils are still studying in unsafe schools.
In Port Elizabeth’s Northern areas thousands of pupils at the beginning of this year boycotted classes over the department’s failure to appoint teachers.
Reacting to Kojana’s appointment, ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said they were sitting with several letters from teachers who had not been paid for more than six months, even though their posts were budgeted for.
“We can’t continue to allow a situation where teachers have to worry about whether they will get paid or not.
“That is unacceptable. We expect the new SG to deal with such teething issues,” said Mabuyane.
“We are here as the ruling party to give him support because we can’t have a department which takes a huge chunk of the provincial budget but is unable to account for every penny,” Mabuyane added.
Kojana could not be reached for comment yesterday.