SGBs join probe into sale of posts

Media reports emerged alleging collusion between certain education officials and stakeholders, including certain individuals, in the selling of posts at schools. The state of SA's education is poor and school pupils such as these need the best chance they can in life; the selling of posts will not aid that aim. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

The Acting Director-General of Education, Panyaza Lesufi, on Tuesday consulted with SGB representatives to map out plans regarding the investigation.

The meeting comes after media reports emerged alleging collusion between certain education officials and stakeholders, including certain individuals, in the selling of posts.

Lesufi reiterated Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga's sentiment that the practice of selling posts was of a form of corruption and against the law.

The SGB associations, which attended the meeting, include the Federation of Association of Governing Bodies (FEDSAS); Governors' Alliance (GA); National Association of School Governing Bodies (NASGB); United Front for School Governing Bodies (UF4SGBs) and the South African National Association for Special Education (SANASE).

An apology was received from the National Congress of School Governing Body (NCSGB).

Teacher unions and SGB associations agreed to co-operate with the investigation to root out the alleged practice and take strong action against those found guilty.

Motshekga last week met with unions to outline her plans to set up a ministerial task team to investigate the allegations.

The task team will be an independent body constituted by the Public Service Commission, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development, the Department of Basic Education as well as external independent education experts, human resources and legal experts.

The names of the members of the investigating team will be announced once the terms of reference have been finalised.

Representatives of the SGB associations commended Minister Motshekga and her department on the quick action taken to safeguard the integrity of the education profession and the quality of the education sector in general.

Anyone who wants to report incidents of selling of posts will be expected to provide information to the investigators.

The terms of reference for the task team will be finalised through due legal processes. It is envisaged that the task team will be led by a retired judge or an independent education expert.