Johannesburg -
About 99 percent of textbooks have been delivered to Grade Ten pupils in Limpopo, and all textbooks to Grades One, Two and Three, the basic education department said on Thursday.
Spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said claims that some schools were still waiting for books were a source of concern.
He was speaking at a news briefing in Johannesburg by the department and civil rights body Section 27, which took the department to court over the non-delivery of textbooks to Limpopo schools.
“Both the department... and Section 27 are concerned about reports that books may not have reached all schools,” Lesufi said.
“We want to encourage anyone with information... to report shortages of textbooks, so that this can be investigated and corrected where necessary.”
In May, the High Court in Pretoria ordered the department to provide Limpopo schools with textbooks by June 15, saying its failure to deliver violated the Constitution.
Section 27, which brought the application, met the department after the first deadline expired, and it was agreed it would be moved to June 27.
The SA Principals' Association said not all schools in Limpopo had received textbooks by Thursday, despite the department's claim it had met the second deadline.
“What do they 1/8education department 3/8 mean they met their deadline? Even if one school didn't receive textbooks it is one too many,” the association's deputy president, Ngoako Rapaledi, said.
“They can't say that they met their deadline. I am on my way to a school where they have to still deliver textbooks.” - Sapa