Eastern Cape Education MEC, Mandla Makupula, had to apologise in the legislature this week for the no show of department officials when an ovesight report was tabled in the House by the portfolio committee.
Democratic Alliance MPL, Edmund van Vuuren, says this unpalatable conduct was a slap in the face for MEC Makapula, premier Noxolo Kiviet and the legislative process in general.
He says this attitude also points to a lack of leadership in the education department which allows such ill discipline to flourish.
Van Vuuren says even if there had been a good reason for the no-show, this had not been communicated to the legislature.
"In the schools report, which was presented to the House, the multiparty education portfolio committee formulated recommendations based on findings made during our visits to 87 schools across the province," he said.
"It is essential that officials record such House resolutions first hand and digest the concerns raised by members. The officials are the implementers of decisions taken. If these implementers disregard legislative processes, reports by portfolio committees will gather dust, as has happened in the past," Van Vuuren said.
