Johannesburg - The DA refused to retract claims on Friday that some Limpopo schools are still missing textbooks.
“It is increasingly undeniable that there are severe shortages in many schools across Limpopo,” said Democratic Alliance MP Jacques Smalle.
“The department's claim that 97 percent of books have been delivered is false.”
On Monday, the department of education said textbooks had been delivered to all schools in Limpopo.
“There is no school in Limpopo that has not received textbooks,” said spokesman Panyaza Lesufi.
He urged the DA to retract its claims by the end of business on Friday.
Smalle said the party received a letter from the Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools on Monday, proving that the department was in denial about the shortage.
“In the letter, schools with shortages are told to collect books from district warehouses on a first-come-first-serve basis.”
He said the schools were instructed to provide updates on whether their “situation” had changed.
Two district warehouses visited by the DA on Thursday, were apparently filled with “thousands” of books.
Smalle said this was proof that there was still a shortage of books.
“The 'first-come-first-serve' instruction also reveals that the demand for textbooks is greater than the supply.”
He said the DA would continue applying pressure on the department until all schools received textbooks.
Comment from the department of education could not be immediately obtained. - Sapa