Shock education probe in East Cape
THE Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education, which has been racked by controversies and repeatedly produced the worst matric results in the country, is to be investigated by the national Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
The wide-ranging SIU probe – which can only be authorised by the president – was announced by the Presidency yesterday.
Spokesman Harold Maloka said: “President Jacob Zuma has, in terms of the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act, 1996 . . . signed a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit to investigate allegations in respect of certain affairs of the Eastern Cape Department of Education.”
Maloka was yesterday unable to provide details on how the investigation had come about. But he did outline the SIU mandate and the extent of its investigation into the department.
He said the allegations to be probed included: Serious maladministration in the department; Improper or unlawful conduct by its employees or officials; Unlawful appropriation or expenditure of public money or property; Unlawful, irregular or unapproved acquisitive acts, transactions, measures or practices having a bearing upon state property; Intentional or negligent loss of public money or damage to public property; and Unlawful or improper conduct by any person which has caused or may cause serious harm to the interests of the public or any category thereof.
“In particular, the SIU will investigate whether the department suffered any losses that
may be recovered as well as investigate whether civil proceedings would emanate from such investigation,” Maloka said. He said the request for the proclamation would have to have come through the Department of Justice.
Department of Justice spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga said it was not necessary for any evidence of allegations to be demonstrated to the department to secure such a proclamation.
SIU spokeswoman Sefura Mongalo said the unit would only respond to written questions, but would do so within the next few days.
DA shadow minister of basic education Annette Lovemore said the announcement was “very welcome and long overdue”.
“Things have not changed in that depart- ment, which suffers a litany of issues ranging from at least 2 000 vacancies which have not been filled to needy children having to walk kilometres to school without any assistance, and the conditions some pupils are subjected to ignore their right to dignity,” she said.
Lovemore pointed to other ills such as certain schools having inflated the number of their pupils to secure more money and the scandal involving ANC parliamentary chief whip Stone Sizani’s wife, Portia, who is on trial for allegedly defrauding the department of R1.2-million.
“The problems in the department are widespread and ultimately it is the children who suffer. This investigation is finally an admission that something is very wrong in that department.”
COPE national spokesman Dennis Bloem said the party welcomed the investigation. “What has been happening in education and in the Eastern Cape Education Department is part of a very worrying trend that has been developing over a long time,” he said.
Bloem said if there was corruption in education, the country was in serious trouble.
Having been dogged by a range of controversies, the department was placed under administration in 2011. This was lifted by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga in 2013.
Prior to being placed under administration, Eastern Cape officials had admitted to overspending the budget by a whopping R2-billion, while unions and parents took the department to task over the termination of the contracts of about 6 000 temporary teachers.
Lack of funds also saw a school-feeding programme and transport initiative being halted.