PARENTS of pupils who were among the top 30 in last year's Matric results in Limpopo have accused the provincial department of education of lying to them.
The department had promised to give laptops to each of the top pupils but has not done so.
During the announcement of matric results in Polokwane on January 5 this year, MEC for education Namane Masemola had made a commitment that all 30 top pupils would be awarded laptops assist them in coping with educational challenges wherever they went to further their studies.
The laptops were never delivered seven months after the promise was made.
A parent of one of the pupils, Robert Mutepe, said he was not sure if his son would ever get the laptop as promised.
Mutepe said of grave concern was that there had been no correspondence with the pupils.
"I ask myself what kind of government we have today that can make promises to people and fail to fulfil them?" he asked.
Mutepe's son currently reads for a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town.
According to him they were initially told there was a problem with a service provider, which made it difficult for them to hand over the laptops on the day.
But departmental spokesman Pat Kgomo disputed the allegations and said only four laptops, which were donated by FNB, were given to pupils on the day.
"The four laptops were given to students who obtained total marks in mathematics and physical science. It is, however, true that we had made promises that we have failed to fulfil," said Kgomo.
He said their failure was as a result of a lack of funds. The department of education in Limpopo is one of the five which were placed under administration in December last year.
Kgomo also indicated that Anglo-American had awarded a R20000 bursary to each of the 50 students who had obtained total marks in maths and physical science and that, since the department could not raise money to buy laptops for those pupils as per the promise, they thought the parents would use the money to buy laptops for their children.
But Mutepe would have none of it.
"The department has made promises and must fulfil them," he said. - frankm@sowetan.co.za
Promises and promises
PARENTS of pupils who were among the top 30 in last year's Matric results in Limpopo have accused the provincial department of education of lying to them.
The department had promised to give laptops to each of the top pupils but has not done so.
During the announcement of matric results in Polokwane on January 5 this year, MEC for education Namane Masemola had made a commitment that all 30 top pupils would be awarded laptops assist them in coping with educational challenges wherever they went to further their studies.
The laptops were never delivered seven months after the promise was made.
A parent of one of the pupils, Robert Mutepe, said he was not sure if his son would ever get the laptop as promised.
Mutepe said of grave concern was that there had been no correspondence with the pupils.
"I ask myself what kind of government we have today that can make promises to people and fail to fulfil them?" he asked.
Mutepe's son currently reads for a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town.
According to him they were initially told there was a problem with a service provider, which made it difficult for them to hand over the laptops on the day.
But departmental spokesman Pat Kgomo disputed the allegations and said only four laptops, which were donated by FNB, were given to pupils on the day.
"The four laptops were given to students who obtained total marks in mathematics and physical science. It is, however, true that we had made promises that we have failed to fulfil," said Kgomo.
He said their failure was as a result of a lack of funds. The department of education in Limpopo is one of the five which were placed under administration in December last year.
Kgomo also indicated that Anglo-American had awarded a R20000 bursary to each of the 50 students who had obtained total marks in maths and physical science and that, since the department could not raise money to buy laptops for those pupils as per the promise, they thought the parents would use the money to buy laptops for their children.
But Mutepe would have none of it.
"The department has made promises and must fulfil them," he said. - frankm@sowetan.co.za
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