MEC Grant must go for spin and deception

The ANC insists the DA education MEC of the Western Cape must resign for deceptive information and denying any shortage of handbooks in provincial schools.

The Western Cape ANC notes education MEC Donald Grant in a written statement denied handbook shortages. He claimed it is the ANC that mislead the public and lied about this situation. The ANC also notes health MEC Theuns Botha came out in support of Grant.

Western Cape ANC leader Marius Fransman says: "The ANC uncovered shortages of printed and prescribed learner material at the halfway mark of the academic year in Western Cape schools. In stark contrast to the denials of MEC Grant, the parents, learners, teachers, teacher union SADTU and even officials of the department have admitted shortages."

In an official report "Textbooks and workbooks provided to Kraaifontain (sic!) schools" the Western Cape department of education has subsequently acknowledged shortages of various text- and workbooks at four schools in the Kraaifontein area. 

"By his own government department's concession in the report, the MEC is exposed for his initial cover-up statement whereby he breached the public trust. This is due to him not being on top of his position or deliberately painting a rosy picture with hastily invented untruths to perpetuate the DA's old style of lies, spin, smoke and mirrors. 

"He must admit his misrepresentation, apologise for it and fall into his own sword by immediately resigning as he is the one not fit to hold public office for not knowing what is going on in the schools and outright denying a serious problem," says Fransman.

Fransman also says premier Helen Zille must give good reasons why she should not release her now self-confessed incompetent MEC.

The ANC further calls on the department to without delay announce a catch-up plan for affected learners to make up for the disadvantage of poor learners denied the required books for six months. This must be done before the end of the day Thursday 12 July 2012. 

The ANC calls on communities and retired teachers to join in support of all affected learners and schools to assist these children to catch-up, Fransman added.

Statement issued by ANC Western Cape leader Marius Fransman, July 10 2012

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