Textbook firm alert on Limpopo repeat

State ‘needs to prepare for next year now’

LOGISTICS company EduSolutions fears that Limpopo’s textbook crisis will be repeated next year if the government does not start its procurement soon.

The company, which has received stinging criticism in the wake of the crisis that resulted in some Limpopo pupils receiving their textbooks six months after the start of the school year, has launched a charm offensive.

It said yesterday it was ready and able to deliver textbooks in time for the new school year.

EduSolutions spokesman Themba Ndhlovu said at a briefing if the Department of Basic Education in Pretoria had not terminated the company’s R320m contract with the Limpopo education department, the books would have been delivered on time.

The contract was cancelled because of a legal opinion given to the national department that the tender process was “neither fair, equitable, transparent, competitive nor cost-effective”.

Mr Ndhlovu said EduSolutions was preparing a civil claim to recoup the losses it had suffered after it failed in the North Gauteng High Court last month to have the contract reinstated.

The company has been accused of benefiting from its political connections, which allegedly include President Jacob Zuma and Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.

But Mr Ndhlovu maintained that the firm had won the R320m textbook contract after a fair process, despite the legal opinion and a report by Anis Karodia, the former head of the department’s intervention team in Limpopo, which found otherwise.

“We have a track record of 10 years and we know how the system works. We have developed both the administrative competence and financial competence to compete against others and win these contracts,” he said.

“Last year we delivered the (books) to Limpopo and achieved

The price of oil traded little changed in New York, heading for its first decline in three weeks, before data forecast to show the US economy grew at the slowest past in a year. Oil for September delivery was at $89,50 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, having earlier advanced as much as 84c to $90,23 a barrel. The contract climbed 0,5% to $89,39, the highest close since July 20. Brent crude for September settlement was up 38c at $105,60 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange.