Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says no final finding has yet been made that any official committed misconduct, breached the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations, or otherwise acted irregularly in awarding the controversial contract.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said no official has been suspended, nor has disciplinary action been taken in the controversial awarding of the R285 million textbook tender to Lighthouse Publishers.
Responding to parliamentary questions from Build One South Africa leader Mmusi Maimane last Wednesday, Gwarube said no final finding has yet been made that any official committed misconduct, breached the Public Finance Management Act, Treasury Regulations, supply chain management prescripts, or otherwise acted irregularly in awarding the tender.
“It would, therefore, not be legally appropriate to take disciplinary steps against officials solely based on untested allegations. Disciplinary action must be based on evidence, comply with applicable labour and public service prescripts, and withstand legal scrutiny,” she said.
It was reported in April that the department awarded the share of R285 million in the R1.6 billion textbook contract to the newly formed Lighthouse Publishers despite having no prior publishing history.
