POLITICS

COSATU not divided over Angie Motshekga

Federation says it has not called for Minister of Basic Education to be fired

COSATU responds to Citizen article

The Congress of South African Trade Unions rejects the allegation, in an article in The Citizen on 23 July 2012, that COSATU leaders "are divided over whether the Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga should be fired over the Limpopo textbook scandal" (see here).

COSATU has not made a call for the Minister of Basic Education to be fired. The federation has been totally united and consistent throughout the Limpopo textbook scandal, in calling for those responsible for the non-delivery of the books to resign or be fired, including the Provincial MEC for Education and the Provincial Premier.

COSATU believes that the provincial leadership must be held primarily responsible, as it was their failure to manage the province's education services which caused the crisis in the first place, and forced national government to take over the running of the education department. They cannot therefore shift the blame on to the shoulders of the National Minister of Basic Education.

The question remains however as to why the national department took so long to rectify the non-delivery of books. The COSATU view, as articulated by the General Secretary on SAfm Morning Live on 19 July 2012, is that if the national minster cannot give the President an acceptable answer to that question, then he should fire her.

This is entirely consistent with the COSATU President's statement that "there should be a general call for those responsible to be held to account for failing to deliver the textbooks, but no one should be singled out over the matter". 

The article is also totally wrong in suggesting that the policies of COSATU leaders have anything to do with the ANC leadership issue. The political allegiances of those responsible for the Limpopo crisis have no bearing whatsoever on whether they should or should not resign or be fired for letting down the people of the province.

Statement issued by Patrick Craven, COSATU national spokesperson, July 23 2012

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