Question NW131 to the Minister of Basic Education
27 February 2017 - NW131
Matsepe, Mr CD to ask the Minister of Basic Education
With reference to the meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education on 30 November 2016, by what date can a response from the SA Council of Educators be expected regarding the allegations made against certain persons (details furnished) and the neutrality of the Ministerial Task Team?
Reply:
A response was received from SACE that this question will only be responded to after its first Council Meeting of 2017 scheduled for 17 February 2017.
“Neutrality of the Ministerial Task Team”
Following allegations published in the media in 2014 that some members of teacher unions and department officials were involved in illegal activities involving the selling of educator posts, the Minister of Basic Education, Mrs AM Motshekga, MP, held meetings with various stakeholders including teacher unions as well as the Associations of School Governing Bodies.
Consensus was reached on the need to investigate speedily the allegations and it was thus agreed that an Independent Ministerial Task Team (MTT) instead of a Commission of Inquiry be established by the Minister to probe these allegations.
Because of the sensitive nature of the matter, the Minister found it appropriate to appoint an independent Chairperson, an independent educationist and members drawn from different Government Departments:
The Chairperson, Prof John Volmink;
- Mr Michael Gardiner, Educationist;
- Mr Siyabonga Msimang, - Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA);
- Mr Paul Nel - Department of Justice and Correctional Services (DoJ);
- Ms Amelia Moleta - Department of Justice and Correctional Services;
- Mr Gerhard Scholtz - Deloitte Forensics; and
- Mr Tommy Prins - Deloitte Forensics.