The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is gobsmacked that under the stewardship of Basic Education Minister, Ms. Siviwe Gwarube, printing costs for matric exam papers escalated nearly threefold to a staggering R3.6 billion from just under R1 billion.

It appears Minister Gwarube was so obsessed with securing exam papers to avoid leakages, she thought R2.6 billion was a small price to pay.

Previously, under ANC Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, exam papers for all the provinces were printed by the Government Printing Works (GPW). But this year, it is reported that Minister Gwarube decided each province could utilise a printer of their choice. Consequently, all but one province used private sector printers, leading to the astounding escalation of the printing bill. For instance, the Limpopo province bill shot up by more than 130% from R13 million to R30 million.

This is a kick in the teeth to the 2 400 teachers in the Western Cape who are in danger of losing their jobs because of cuts to the Basic Education budget. It is salt in wound for members of our affiliate, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU), who just last week spent several days and nights camped out at the department’s KwaZulu Natal district offices, protesting the severe funding shortfall affecting schools across the province. Most schools in the province are non-fee paying and rely heavily on financial allocations from the department. However, the department has failed to fulfil its obligation at a time when pupils are supposed to be sitting for exams.

COSATU can’t help but question the Minister’s decision-making process, because she is fully aware of the funding crisis, not just within her department, but across government. What possessed her to open this pandora’s box, making it possible for provincial officials to loot. It is reported that some officials inflated prices so they could skim off the top.

Minister Gwarube recently announced that the implementation of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act, except for clauses 4 and 5, was underway. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana committed to finalising the Public Procurement Act’s Regulations shortly. One of the key provisions of these two Acts is to enable centralised procurement to help save costs and reduce corruption. Why then would she interfere with a process that was already in line with legislation?

Minister Gwarube must be made to account for this gross miscarriage of her duties. With a little more than 100 days in office, Gwarube has already been insubordinate to President Cyril Ramaphosa by refusing to attend to the signing of the BELA Act. Now she has wastefully spent R2.6 billion, that could have been put to better use elsewhere in the department.

It is absolutely unacceptable that with the fiscus under severe pressure that the Department can be allowed to play fast and loose blowing over R3 billion or 1% of the entire Budget like this. The same mediocre politicians, including the Provincial MECs, will soon be bleating about the wage bill. COSATU will be urgently engaging Parliament’s Committees on Public Accounts and Basic Education to ensure the Department is held accountable for this shameful squandering of public resources. 

From the Federation’s perspective, Gwarube is simply begging to be fired.

Issued by COSATU

Zanele Sabela(COSATU National Spokesperson)

Mobile: 079 287 5788 / 077 600 6639

Email: zanele@cosatu.org.za