Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube outlines a range of reforms when she tabled the budget vote for the Department of Basic Education in Parliament on Tuesday.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has announced an independent investigation into the R1.6 billion textbook tender for grades one to three that was irregularly awarded.
The investigation comes after it recently emerged that a portion of the tender was awarded to Lighthouse Publisher, a company that was formed days after the tender terms were issued.
Tabling the department’s R38.2 billion budget for 2026/27 on Tuesday, Gwarube said she has considered advice from the National Treasury, whom she initially asked to investigate the approval of Lighthouse Publisher for the textbooks.
“While Treasury's consideration on the matter was inconclusive, it raised a concern about our own department's deviation from ordinary competitive bidding processes, and I'm therefore announcing that the department will be launching an independent external investigation, and according to Treasury advice, into the foundation phase national catalogue process.
