Book firm fears Limpopo repeat

a 99% success rate. There were no issues of nondelivery.”

Mr Ndhlovu said the national and Limpopo departments of education were responsible for the crisis as they had not ordered the proper books, nor ensured the logistics for delivery were in place. It was now time to start preparing for next year to avoid a repeat of the problem.

“The Limpopo education department is running out of time to get systems in place for next year’s textbook delivery. EduSolutions is ready to return to our core business and deliver … textbooks for next year.”

EduSolutions director Mateli Mpuntsha denied the company had benefited from political connections and said the only relationship it had with Mr Zuma was its CEO, Shaun Battleman’s commitment to the president’s education trust.

“We have many corporate social investment initiatives and the trust is only one of them,” he said.

Mr Mpuntsha said it was “only natural” that the company would employ former senior government officials as their intimate knowledge of government processes enabled an appropriate service.

Mr Ndhlovu said the company was willing to co-operate with any probe into its affairs and had written to Public Protector Thuli Madonsela informing her of this.

According to media reports yesterday, the Hawks were investigating an EduSolutions contract for the supply of learner support materials, including home theatre systems and toys for grade R pupils.

Mr Ndhlovu denied there was anything irregular in the tender.