Polokwane - All Limpopo schools have received textbooks for the new year, basic education spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said on Monday.
“There is no school in Limpopo that has not received textbooks,” he told reporters in Pretoria.
“Someone is taking advantage of the situation in Limpopo and is wanting to score cheap political points.”
The Democratic Alliance claimed last week that some schools in the province had not received textbooks.
It said a telephonic survey conducted by party officials found that 56 schools had not received all the textbooks they needed.
DA spokesman Mmusi Maimane said he believed there were hundreds of schools still without the relevant books.
He said the party was in possession of a letter from a Limpopo principal apologising to parents for the school not receiving any textbooks for core subjects.
Lesufi said on Monday: “We want to urge the DA by close of business on Friday to retract their statement.”
He said the party should apologise for discrediting the department and the integrity of Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
The department's textbook delivery stood at 97.8 percent in Limpopo.
“We are only dealing with claims of over-stock or under-stock,” Lesufi said.
“We are just cleaning up. There are no schools that have not received any books.”
He said at this time last year no schools in Limpopo had received any books.
“We have made a drastic improvement.”
Lesufi said the Duiwelskloof Primary School principal's claims that the school had not received the core books would be investigated.
“There is tangible proof that this school received books,” he said referring to a delivery form with the school's stamp on it.
“There is no way the principal can claim he has not received the books when he has signed for it.” - Sapa