Zuma breaks promise on Eastern Cape school desks

19 November 2014

In his State of the Nation address on 17 June 2014, President Jacob Zuma promised that every school in the Eastern Cape would have desks by August of this year. He said: "The furniture will be delivered in all Eastern Cape schools by the middle of August 2014." 

But in a recent Parliamentary reply received from the Minister of Basic Education indicates that 1 174 schools have not yet received the desks and other furniture they need. 

This means that more than 350 000 learners still do not have the desks they need for a proper education. This is a disgrace and an insult to our children, who deserve a decent education. 

In February 2014 Judge Glenn Goosen of the Mthatha High Court ordered the government and the Eastern Cape provincial education department to provide every public school in the province with adequate school furniture before May 31 2014.

The President, the Basic Education Minister and the Eastern Cape provincial government are therefore all in contempt of court as well. 

I will write to the Minister to demand an explanation and a plan to fix this crisis. 

We will do everything we can to fight for decent and high quality education for every single child in South Africa. The future of our country depends on it.

Statement issued by Desiree van der Walt MP, DA Shadow Deputy Minister of Basic Education, November 19 2014

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