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The DA welcomes the Public Protector’s decision to investigate the debacle that has left thousands of Limpopo learners without textbooks.

We have written to the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, on various occasions calling for her intervention.

An independent investigation is essential to identify the root causes of the fiasco and to ensure accountability for all wrongdoing. It is therefore imperative that the scope of the investigations is clear.

We believe that the investigations should include the following regarding the textbook ordering process:

• A full investigation into the awarding of all textbook tenders in Limpopo, and nationally, including those awarded to EduSolutions and Lebone;
• a full investigation of the allegations of impropriety connected to the textbook tender specifications, pricing and roll-out;
• establishing the responsibilities and mandates of various officials and contractors at different stages of the process, including the ordering process; and
• an investigation into the flow of monies from EduSolutions back to the province, as a result of their negotiation of discounts from publishers, including when and where these funds were deposited, and for what purpose the money was used.

In terms of the destruction of textbooks, the investigations should look at the following:

• Whether a decision was taken by officials in the department to destroy certain books, and if so, what this decision was based on;
• which government officials were involved; and
• how the chain of command in the process of ordering and delivering textbooks created a situation which allowed for books to be destroyed.

A thorough and credible investigation must be conducted and appropriate remedial action must be taken against those found guilty of wrongdoing.

We have to make sure that we learn from this crisis and that the mistakes that were made are never repeated.