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The African National Congress Youth League has noted the report of the
Auditor-General on the financial statements of the Department of Basic
Education. The AG paints a worrying picture of a Department in
disarray, directionless and leaderless.

The Department is embroiled in a quagmire of under spending of more
than R1 billion and failure to deliver on the mandate bestowed upon
it. All of this takes place at the same time that the Eastern Cape
Education Department will be terminating 3000 teacher’s jobs for the
coming academic year, citing lack of funding. Thousands of learners continue
to study in mud schools but only 2% of the school infrastructure
backlog is utilised The unemployment rate in South Africa sits at a
staggering 25,1%, a destitute and hopeless situation, however Minister
Motshekga and her team fail to fill of funded posts in 70% of the
schools.

Government has committed itself to a key output in this term to
improve of the quality of learning and teaching. The Department of
Basic Education fails to spend more than R90million in Programme 2,
the programme responsible for “increasing access to high quality
learning materials”.

It is clear that the Department does not have capacity to spend more
than R40million in the programme meant to “promote quality teaching
and institutional performance through the effective supply, delivery
and utilization of human resources”.

The ANC Youth League, with a historical and critical task to champion
the interests of youth within the African National Congress, calls
upon the African National Congress to act and act decisively in the
best interest of our education system and the future of this country.
Repeatedly, Minister Motshekga has provided reason for the ANC to
accept that she has failed to deliver on her mandate however she
continues to be protected for reasons unknown to us. Minister
Motshekga should allow her conscience to eventually speak to her and
do the noble and honourable thing; step down from a position that is
obviously too overwhelming for her.