Minister saddened by the selling of education posts
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga admitted that education posts were being sold for cash in several provinces across the country.
Motshekga briefed the media in Pretoria on Thursday, following an investigation that started in September and uncovered 75 cases, 30 of which provided grounds for reasonable suspicion or wrongdoing.
Motshegka said a report uncovered some very concerning tendencies in the appointment of teachers and principals, saying she was saddened by the extent and the deliberate manipulation of the process as well as the apparent weaknesses in some provinces.
The minister explained that in some provinces, like the Northern Cape, Western Cape and the Free State, there is a healthy relationship with unions and the lines of authority are very clear.
In Gauteng, the problem isn't as bad yet, but it is starting to creep in like in the rest of the provinces where there are major problems.
"We will use this report to remediate the system and ensure that we bring this rot that has infiltrated education control under control. This blatant exploitation and corruption will not be tolerated," she said.
There was no indication of when a final report could be expected.
Head of the task team, Prof. John Volmink, explained that in the minority of cases there were claims of money being paid for jobs. He could not give the names of the cases where this happened, but could say that in one case the amount paid was R1000 and in another R50 000.
"These are the cases that we handed over to the police and they are not always between unions. Sometimes an SGB (school governing body) chairperson uses undue influence to try and sell the post," he said.
(File photo: Gallo Images)