The Department of Basic Education has lashed out at the Human Rights Commission for setting a deadline to deliver textbooks to schools in Limpopo.
In a statement Sunday the Department said that “it is extremely unfortunate that the Commission has chosen to communicate with the Minister of Basic Education through a media statement instead of engaging the department directly.”
“The commission could have benefited immensely from factual correctness and other crucial information related to the matter had it consulted with the department or the Limpopo Education Department,” the Department said.
“We have always cooperated with the Commission in all previous occasions and we consider it an important institution for the advancement of our constitution. It came as a shock to read via the media that the Minister had been given a deadline to make an undertaking about a task which the province was already handling,” said spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga.
“It is therefore unclear what the motive is for communicating with the department via the media,” he said.
On Friday the SA Human Rights Commission called on the Limpopo Education Department to deliver all outstanding textbooks by Monday and that the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga undertake a formal commitment to have all textbooks delivered by no later than January 26.
SAHRC Commissioner, advocate Andre Gaum was quoted as saying that "the SAHRC regards the non-compliance by the Department of Basic Education, and the consequent non-delivery of textbooks, in a very serious light."
The Department of Basic Education said that the delays related only to stationery and not textbooks.
“The Limpopo education department has since issued a media statement to provide an explanation for the delay which are linked to procurement processes. Since 2012 more than R2billion has been spent on the provisioning of learner teacher material in Limpopo only,” the Department said.
