Equal Education press release – 26 July 2013 – for immediate release
Equal Education is shocked at allegations of the non-delivery and destruction of school workbooks in KZN by UTi Distribution
Yesterday, the KZN MEC for education, Senzo Mchunu, released a press statement of his discovery of burnt, shredded and undelivered workbooks found in a warehouse of UTi Distribution in Empangeni.
UTi is contracted to distribute workbooks to all nine provinces.
MEC Mchunu stated that: “This morning I went and saw for myself workbooks shredded, burnt and other workbooks which were supposed to be delivered by March still at the warehouse. We can’t help but suspect that there is a case of huge corruption on the part of the company in question. We also suspect that distribution of workbooks to schools have been affected as result of this misdemeanour.”
Equal Education is shocked to hear these allegations of the needless destruction and non-delivery of workbooks which our learners so desperately need.
MEC Mchunu reported the matter to Minister Motshekga and SAPS, and EE would like to applaud the MEC for bringing this matter to light.
UTi has since responded to the Minister’s claims, saying that 100 rain-damaged textbooks were shredded, and that they had remedied the situation.
UTi said that “Whilst we don’t believe the action taken at the branch had any impact on service delivery of this important project, it would appear that the required protocols were not followed, and we have therefore sent an apology to the Department of Education for this unfortunate mishap. We will be re-enforcing our internal processes to ensure that this does not occur in future.”
However, EE still strongly urges Minister Angie Motshekga , the SAPS, as well as the Public Protector to investigate this case thoroughly and to report on their findings to the public. Private companies should not be immune from public scrutiny, especially not when they are given a task to deliver public goods and services.
Contact
Nokubonga Yawa – EE spokesperson – 082 833 8389
Heidi Swart – EE spokesperson 082 253 1182
Yoliswa Dwane – EE Chairperson 0723427747
Brad Brockman – EE General Secretary 0722678489
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