Calls to sack Eastern Cape department of education MEC Mandla Makupula are intensifying.The Economic Freedom Fighters is the latest party to join the chorus of demands that Makupula step down.
And adding its voice to the debate, the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) has also called on the embattled MEC to resign within two weeks, or face a mass action from students.
“If the MEC fails to resign we will take learners of the province of the Eastern Cape to the headquarters of the department of education,” said Cosas provincial secretary Francisco Dyantyi in a statement this week.
“We are expecting the MEC to resign within two weeks or we declare the province of the Eastern Cape ungovernable.”
Although wanting Makupula to step down, Dyantyi said he still had a role in government.
“We call upon the office of the president, minister of education, the office of the premier to do the right thing, which is to redeploy the MEC of education to another department.
“We can’t let go of such experience like that – our government still needs people like him, but he has failed the education of the Eastern Cape dismally,” he said.
The Eastern Cape only managed a 2015 matric pass-rate of 56.8%, a drop of 8.6% from 2014. The pass-rate fell far short of the targeted 70%.
EFF’s Chris Hani regional secretary Wonga Dunjwa called on Makupula to avoid further embarrassment and resign.
“What a shame to those who think the ANC can change the fortunes of this province. The MEC of education must resign,” Dunjwa said.
Earlier this week the ANC Youth League also called for his “immediate” removal as MEC of the troubled department.
“We do not believe that there is more creativity forthcoming from his leadership to take us forward,” the league said in a statement.
The Young Communist League has been a lone voice in his defence so far and criticised the ANCYL for making the call.
YCL provincial secretary Andile Mosha said: “To attribute problems and failures of apartheid legacy to an individual is a serious mistake that the Democratic Movement must not commit.”
Makupula serves on the provincial executive committee of the South African Communist Party, which is the mother body of YCL.
Calls mount on MEC Makupula to resign
The Economic Freedom Fighters is the latest party to join the chorus of demands that Makupula step down.
And adding its voice to the debate, the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) has also called on the embattled MEC to resign within two weeks, or face a mass action from students.
“If the MEC fails to resign we will take learners of the province of the Eastern Cape to the headquarters of the department of education,” said Cosas provincial secretary Francisco Dyantyi in a statement this week.
“We are expecting the MEC to resign within two weeks or we declare the province of the Eastern Cape ungovernable.”
Although wanting Makupula to step down, Dyantyi said he still had a role in government.
“We call upon the office of the president, minister of education, the office of the premier to do the right thing, which is to redeploy the MEC of education to another department.
“We can’t let go of such experience like that – our government still needs people like him, but he has failed the education of the Eastern Cape dismally,” he said.
The Eastern Cape only managed a 2015 matric pass-rate of 56.8%, a drop of 8.6% from 2014. The pass-rate fell far short of the targeted 70%.
EFF’s Chris Hani regional secretary Wonga Dunjwa called on Makupula to avoid further embarrassment and resign.
“What a shame to those who think the ANC can change the fortunes of this province. The MEC of education must resign,” Dunjwa said.
Earlier this week the ANC Youth League also called for his “immediate” removal as MEC of the troubled department.
“We do not believe that there is more creativity forthcoming from his leadership to take us forward,” the league said in a statement.
The Young Communist League has been a lone voice in his defence so far and criticised the ANCYL for making the call.
YCL provincial secretary Andile Mosha said: “To attribute problems and failures of apartheid legacy to an individual is a serious mistake that the Democratic Movement must not commit.”
Makupula serves on the provincial executive committee of the South African Communist Party, which is the mother body of YCL.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos