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Thursday, 12 July 2012 10:10

More school textbooks dumped in Limpopo

The Democratic Alliance has uncovered yet another dumping site for school textbooks that were meant for Limpopo students - seven months ago - spokesperson Desiree van der Walt said on Tuesday.

She said the books were found next to a bridge in Tzaneen, last week Friday. The party has opened a case of vandalism against state property with Tzaneen police.

This was the third criminal charge to be opened for vandalism of state property.

The first was laid at first was laid at a Giyani police station and the second relates to the destruction of textbooks with public money in Seshego.

Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto confirmed that the DA had opened the case. She said about 50 books were discovered at the latest dumpsite.

"The Limpopo education department clerk who was charged with malicious damage to property when the first dumpsite was discovered will also be held accountable for this latest incident," said Otto.

The clerk was due to appear in the Giyani Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The Limpopo education department denied any knowledge of another dumping site.

Meanwhile, the presidency on Monday said attempts to link EduSolutions to President Jacob Zuma's RDP Education Trust, were baseless and unfortunate.

"Many companies donate to charitable organisations in South Africa, including the president's education trust," spokesperson Mac Maharaj said in a statement.

The contract between the Limpopo education department and EduSolutions was terminated after an investigation into the company by Treasury and other agencies started in December last year.

After the contract was terminated, new means for textbook delivery had to be sought, Maharaj said. He said Zuma had full confidence in the investigation.

In May this year, the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled the department's failure to provide textbooks to schools in Limpopo violated the Constitution. The application was brought by rights organisation Section 27.

Some pupils had been without textbooks for the past six months after the department failed to procure books on time.

The department was ordered to devise a catch-up plan to remedy the consequences of the delay and to supply the affected schools with textbooks by June 15.

The department failed to meet the court's deadline but Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said her department met with Section 27 and agreed to move the deadline to June 27.

The minister said the department had accepted an offer from a company called UTI to help them deliver the books.

Former higher education director general Mary Metcalfe was appointed at the end of June to evaluate textbook deliveries to schools in Limpopo following the June 27 deadline.

Both the department and Section 27 agreed to appoint an independent person to verify claims.

Two more teams were set up on Wednesday to probe problems with textbook deliveries in the province. One was appointed by the presidency, the second by the Limpopo government.

Parliament's portfolio committee on basic education visited Limpopo on Thursday to gather information on the matter.

The national education department took over the running of Limpopo's education department in December following maladministration.

Source: SAPA

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