Motshekga bids to end corruption

BASIC Education minister Angie Motshekga says "corruption, leadership vacuum and poor financial management systems" are to blame for the Eastern Cape education department's collapse earlier this year

"Our focus will be on arresting the current financial leakage due to poor controls and corruption," Motshekga told Parliament yesterday.

Three weeks ago the cabinet had resolved that Motshekga should take over the provincial education department, which had overspent on its salary budget and subsequently had to lay off 4000 temporary teachers. It also suspended transport and feeding schemes.

The department failed to spend money allocated to repairing derelict schools.

Reporting back to Parliament on what she had done since putting the provincial department under her administration, Motshekga said a team of her top officials had taken over the leadership, financial management of and procurement for the department.

Working with the Treasury and Department of Public Services and Administration, the team would put "credible" financial systems in place and show officials how to budget. Eastern Cape officials were cooperating with her team, Motshekga said.

Cope MP Nolitha Vukuza-Linda said Motshekga had acted too late.