The Department of Basic Education has noted the court ruling made today at the North Gauteng High Court.

The judgment confirms what the department had been saying that textbooks have indeed been delivered to all the schools in Limpopo, owing to the credibility of the available data and a lack of cooperation from some school principals who elected not to report shortages to the department, this in turn led to learners experiencing shortages. 

The judgment comes at a time when a further 271 000 books had been delivered to schools including those that were part of the court action. Schools that had reported shortages are continuing to receive the books on a daily basis.

The department went further and carried out a second verification process in March 2014 in addition to the verification and audit exercise which was carried out on November and December 2013. The remediation of shortages from the second verification exercise has already begun and the department remains confident that all legitimate shortages will be addressed

The court has noted the Department’s commitment to complete all top up deliveries as soon as possible.

The Department will continue to ensure that every learner in every school has a textbook. It is, however, critical to ensure that schools check and report shortages promptly to the department so as to enable the swift delivery of top up textbooks.

Enquires:        

Elijah Mhlanga – 083 580 8275

 ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF BASIC EDUCATION