Embattled former Education head Mthunywa Ngonzo says he decided to quit after his two-year legal battle with the Eastern Cape government became “too stressful” for him.He also wanted to “save (his) name”.
Ngonzo was speaking to the Saturday Dispatch yesterday following a deal brokered with the provincial government on Thursday this week.
He said he opted out because the battle took a toll not only on himself and his family but also on the government as well.
“Because this case protracted for two years it became so stressful to me, to my family, to colleagues, friends, comrades, to the state and governing party.
“Because all this stress was caused by my name I decided to recuse myself,” he said.
Ngonzo said his case had also attracted a lot of political attention.
“I’ve observed over a two-year period that this case is involving a number of people, many parties and stakeholders that are interested because education is a societal matter.
“It became part of a political discussion in parliamentary committees session and of opposition parties. My name became a centre of political discussions. I decided to save my name,” he said.
Ngonzo said he also realised that the education system in the province was not improving due to leadership instability caused by lack of a permanent head of department (HoD).
He said he did not want to delay the appointment of a new HoD in the interest of society.
Asked whether his decision did not come too late, given the province’s poor performance in last year’s matric exams, Ngonzo said he could not be held accountable for the performance of the province while he was not there.
“History shows that while I was there, the province was performing well,” Ngonzo said.
Ngonzo was brought in the department in 2012 following the national intervention by Department of Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga.
At the time, Ngonzo was a district director of Cofimvaba district, one of the province’s best performers 2011, with its matric pass rate improving by over 12% in 2011 to a local record of 69.2%.
At the time, the provincial average was 58%.
Ngonzo said he would be pursuing his doctorate of philosophy (PhD) studies at the University of Fort Hare and was looking at pursuing a career in the academic field.
“If the governing party and government wishes to give me a task to perform I will accept it but that’s not my immediate plan,” Ngonzo said. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Ngonzo: ‘Why I quit education’
He also wanted to “save (his) name”.
Ngonzo was speaking to the Saturday Dispatch yesterday following a deal brokered with the provincial government on Thursday this week.
He said he opted out because the battle took a toll not only on himself and his family but also on the government as well.
“Because this case protracted for two years it became so stressful to me, to my family, to colleagues, friends, comrades, to the state and governing party.
“Because all this stress was caused by my name I decided to recuse myself,” he said.
Ngonzo said his case had also attracted a lot of political attention.
“I’ve observed over a two-year period that this case is involving a number of people, many parties and stakeholders that are interested because education is a societal matter.
“It became part of a political discussion in parliamentary committees session and of opposition parties. My name became a centre of political discussions. I decided to save my name,” he said.
Ngonzo said he also realised that the education system in the province was not improving due to leadership instability caused by lack of a permanent head of department (HoD).
He said he did not want to delay the appointment of a new HoD in the interest of society.
Asked whether his decision did not come too late, given the province’s poor performance in last year’s matric exams, Ngonzo said he could not be held accountable for the performance of the province while he was not there.
“History shows that while I was there, the province was performing well,” Ngonzo said.
Ngonzo was brought in the department in 2012 following the national intervention by Department of Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga.
At the time, Ngonzo was a district director of Cofimvaba district, one of the province’s best performers 2011, with its matric pass rate improving by over 12% in 2011 to a local record of 69.2%.
At the time, the provincial average was 58%.
Ngonzo said he would be pursuing his doctorate of philosophy (PhD) studies at the University of Fort Hare and was looking at pursuing a career in the academic field.
“If the governing party and government wishes to give me a task to perform I will accept it but that’s not my immediate plan,” Ngonzo said. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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