Johannesburg - Students group Cosas on Thursday welcomed the disciplinary hearing ruling that basic education department director general Bobby Soobrayan is not guilty of wrongdoing.
“The Congress of SA Students' welcomes the decision... with open hands,” secretary general Tshiamo Tsotetsi said in a statement.
“Moreover we wish to applaud the inclusivity of the process and its transparency in arriving at this decision...”
On Tuesday, the department announced that Soobrayan had been acquitted on charges that he misused funds and signed an agreement on the department's behalf without having the authority to do so.
The disciplinary hearing was held in December and was chaired by Judge Willem van der Merwe.
Soobrayan was accused of signing a collective agreement on behalf of the department without a proper mandate, and misusing funds from the Education Labour Relations Council during April 2012.
Last year, the SA Democratic Teachers' Union (Sadtu) accused Soobrayan of violating the Public Finance Management Act.
It held a nation-wide protest demanding the resignations of both Soobrayan and Motshekga. Later the protest was suspended when Sadtu reached an agreement with the minister.
She promised the complaint against Soobrayan would be treated “as a matter of urgency”. - Sapa