Eastern Cape education officials are being blamed for obstructing a probe into the selling of teachers’ posts – the only officials in the country to do so.
Professor John Volmink, head of a task team assigned by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to investigate allegations that the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and other unions sold teaching posts, revealed to the Dispatch yesterday that officials in the department had delayed their investigations into the province.
“I’m disappointed by the Eastern Cape department of education officials. They are the only officials in the country that would not allow forensic investigators access to documents.
“This was obstruction and tricks in the Eastern Cape showing that they are hiding something,” Volmink said.
This comes after the City Press reported that Volmink’s interim report uncovered the selling of teaching posts were prevalent in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West.
Volmink said officials at the province’s education department headquarters in Zwelitsha demanded green identity documents from investigators when they visited the facility.
He said officials would not allow his team even after showing their driver’s licences.
Volmink said this delayed work in the province, resulting in his team only managing to work on six of the 23 education districts in the province.
These included Port Elizabeth, Mthatha, Grahamstown, Uitenhage, Ngcobo and Cofimvaba.
Outstanding districts were East London, Queenstown, King William’s Town, Maluti, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Qumbu, Fort Beaufort, Lady Frere, Lusikisiki, Sterkspruit, Butterworth, Mount Frere, Dutywa, Libode, Mbizana and Mount Fletcher. He said several irregularities in appointing teachers had been uncovered, but declined to comment further saying it was part of information contained in an interim report and the investigations were ongoing.
Volmink said other cases would be sent to authorities for disciplinary action to be taken against officials.
He said his team did not have problems working with unions but it was officials who were hell-bent on “locking us out”.
“It was really difficult to get hold of the provincial leaders.
“People use education as a political football. We will clean up education,” Volmink said.
A team of investigators is scheduled to descend on the province again next month to conduct the investigation in the remaining districts.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department would deal with the matter once a final report had been presented to it.
“This is his practical experience.
“Obviously, we will act on his recommendations if something as serious like it is reflected in the report and there are recommendations.”
Asked for a copy of Volmink’s interim report, DBE spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said: “The report is not yet public. It will be released once it has been finalised.”
Probe into teaching posts hits snag
Professor John Volmink, head of a task team assigned by Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to investigate allegations that the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and other unions sold teaching posts, revealed to the Dispatch yesterday that officials in the department had delayed their investigations into the province.
“I’m disappointed by the Eastern Cape department of education officials. They are the only officials in the country that would not allow forensic investigators access to documents.
“This was obstruction and tricks in the Eastern Cape showing that they are hiding something,” Volmink said.
This comes after the City Press reported that Volmink’s interim report uncovered the selling of teaching posts were prevalent in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and North West.
Volmink said officials at the province’s education department headquarters in Zwelitsha demanded green identity documents from investigators when they visited the facility.
He said officials would not allow his team even after showing their driver’s licences.
Volmink said this delayed work in the province, resulting in his team only managing to work on six of the 23 education districts in the province.
These included Port Elizabeth, Mthatha, Grahamstown, Uitenhage, Ngcobo and Cofimvaba.
Outstanding districts were East London, Queenstown, King William’s Town, Maluti, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Qumbu, Fort Beaufort, Lady Frere, Lusikisiki, Sterkspruit, Butterworth, Mount Frere, Dutywa, Libode, Mbizana and Mount Fletcher. He said several irregularities in appointing teachers had been uncovered, but declined to comment further saying it was part of information contained in an interim report and the investigations were ongoing.
Volmink said other cases would be sent to authorities for disciplinary action to be taken against officials.
He said his team did not have problems working with unions but it was officials who were hell-bent on “locking us out”.
“It was really difficult to get hold of the provincial leaders.
“People use education as a political football. We will clean up education,” Volmink said.
A team of investigators is scheduled to descend on the province again next month to conduct the investigation in the remaining districts.
Eastern Cape education spokesman Loyiso Pulumani said the department would deal with the matter once a final report had been presented to it.
“This is his practical experience.
“Obviously, we will act on his recommendations if something as serious like it is reflected in the report and there are recommendations.”
Asked for a copy of Volmink’s interim report, DBE spokesman Elijah Mhlanga said: “The report is not yet public. It will be released once it has been finalised.”
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