Tebogo Msimanga |
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng says it noted that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) MEC, Panyaza Lesufi has received the Special Investigative Unit’s (SIU) preliminary report on decontamination of Gauteng schools and demands that it must be made public to ensure transparency and accountability in dealing with identified and implicated officials.
The party said the GDE wasted more than R431 million on decontamination of schools within three months. DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education Khume Ramulifho said this money could have been used to eradicate asbestos schools, and build more classrooms to reduce overcrowding.
“If this money was spent appropriately, it would have ensured that learners are taught in a conducive learning environment where their educational development could be nurtured.”
Ramulifho added that according to the department’s presentation, MEC Lesufi has received a preliminary report from the SIU with specific recommendations for the HOD to implement. The report has also been provided to the HOD for his consideration and action.
“The DA welcomes the SIU’s preliminary report, and the progress made so far and believes that this is a step in the right direction to ensure that the department recovers all monies meant to ensure that our children receive quality education and are taught in a conducive environment.”
Ramulifho further said the DA will continue to put pressure on MEC Lesufi to make this report public and to monitor the progress of implementation of the SIU preliminary report recommendations to “ensure that those who are implicated are brought to book and they pay back every cent owed to the education of our children.”
