DA finds more textbooks

REPEATED denials of textbook shortages in Limpopo have been cast into doubt after the DA discovered another warehouse full of books in Schoemansdal.

This brings to four the number of warehouses found full of textbooks, the party's Jacques Smalle said. The others were in Polokwane, Thohoyandou and Giyani.

The provincial education department has repeatedly denied claims that it had not delivered the required textbooks.

Deputy chief executive officer of the Federation of Governing Bodies of South African Schools,Jaco Deacon, yesterday said that the organisation had conducted a "proper survey" and found "there is a huge number of textbooks outstanding". "If the politicians say books have been delivered, someone is lying," he said.

National Basic Education Department spokesman Panyaza Lesufi said textbooks have been delivered to all schools and the department is busy with verification. He said some schools would have shortages due to increased pupil numbers and it will be remedied. The books in warehouses were surplus books ordered to provide for shortages, he said.