DA: who ordered textbook destruction?

Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga at a press conferance. Picture: Chester Makana.

Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga at a press conferance. Picture: Chester Makana.

Published Jul 29, 2012

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The DA is taking action under the Promotion of Access to Information Act to find out who ordered the destruction of textbooks in Limpopo, it said on Sunday.

It had made an application to the Limpopo education department for access to its “directives on shredding and recycling of textbooks”, said Democratic Alliance education spokeswoman Desiree van der Walt.

“Up to so far, our requests to have these documents have been utterly ignored by (Limpopo education department spokesman) Mr Pat Kgomo, who is the communication officer of the department,” she said in a statement.

“His response or lack thereof has been rather disappointing for an official whose duty is to deal with the department’s public engagement.”

The application was made on Friday.

Kgomo confirmed receiving Van der Walt's request and said he was processing it.

“I only received her e-mail and her phone call on Friday. That's all I can say,” he said.

The DA has opened three criminal charges for vandalism of state property.

The first was laid at a Giyani police station and the second at Seshego.

Van der Walt said the people shredding textbooks in Seshego had told the DA they were acting on the instructions of the Limpopo education department.

She said the DA was informed it was a departmental “policy directive”.

“The document is there and it must be made available,” said Van der Walt.

“The department must, after all, adhere to the principles of openness and transparency. One conclusion is inevitable, and it is that the department is trying to conceal some information,” she alleged.

Earlier this month, Limpopo education department clerk appeared in the Giyani Magistrate's Court in connection with the dumping of school textbooks.

Glen Kubayi, 44, was released on bail of R2000. His appearance was not related to the cases opened by the DA.

The national education department and the Limpopo education department have been in the spotlight for failing to deliver textbooks to schools on time. - Sapa

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