Following weekend newspaper reports that the ANC's national executive committee (NEC) had called for a "frank" discussion to be held on the matter, the ANC Youth League on Sunday went a step further, calling for Motshekga to be axed from her post as basic education minister.

ANC Youth League spokesman Khusela Sangoni-Khawe said the matter was indicative of administrative bungling on the minister's part.
According to the Sunday Times, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe had warned at the party's NEC meeting on Saturday that the ANC "could not afford 'to be found wanting in dealing with crisis points in society'."

Zuma reportedly defended Motshekga from calls by NEC members for her to be fired as Motshekga is also the leader of the ANC Women's League – a powerful voting bloc within the party. Without the support of the ANC Youth League, which has made it clear that it wants Zuma out of the driver's seat, the president may well feel he needs all the help he can get.

Zuma's stance on the textbook scandal has so far seemed almost indifferent. The presidency has commissioned an investigation into the matter but Zuma himself has been criticised for not appearing to take the debacle seriously enough.

Monday, 30 July 2012

Darul Ihsan Media Desk