Minister Gwarube dismisses calls for audit on Eastern Cape education spending
Image: Supplied
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has dismissed calls for an independent forensic audit into the Eastern Cape Education Department's expenditure of infrastructure funds.
Instead, Gwarube said her department was taking measures to address weaknesses identified that caused infrastructure crisis in the province.
'There are currently no plans by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) to commission an independent forensic audit of the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG) or Equitable Share spending in the Eastern Cape for the period since 1 January 2019.
'However, the DBE maintains infrastructure planning and performance information through the Infrastructure Reporting Model and the Education Facilities Management System (EFMS),' she said.
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Gwarube said the systems contained annual allocations and expenditure performance per infrastructure funding stream, a record of contractors awarded infrastructure projects, and estimated and actual completion rates, including, where applicable, reasons for delays and underperformance.
'This information is available to relevant oversight bodies upon request and is used routinely by the DBE to monitor progress and flag systemic issues.'
Gwarube was responding to MK Party MP Nompumelelo Gasa, who noted with concern that the Cape's schools remained the worst in the country regarding billions of rand allocated to schools.
Gasa asked the minister whether, in an effort to uncover whether corruption or incompetence was to blame, her department will commission an independent forensic audit of all infrastructure grants and Equitable Share spending there.
She said the forensic audit should determine the total amount that was budgeted against the actual amount spent on infrastructure delivery and uncover the names of the contractors that were awarded the projects and consequences for their failures.
Gasa also enquired whether Gwarube found that the crisis of school infrastructure in the Eastern Cape was fuelled by mismanagement.
According to Gwarube, her department acknowledged that several factors contributed to the infrastructure challenges experienced in the Eastern Cape.
She cited persistent backlogs inherited from the pre-1994 era, ongoing budget constraints and competing service delivery priorities, contractor underperformance and project implementation delays, adverse weather conditions affecting construction timelines, and disruptions by local business forums and community protests at school sites.
'While these factors have negatively affected delivery in some areas, the DBE does not attribute the overall infrastructure crisis in the Eastern Cape solely to mismanagement.
'Nonetheless, systemic weaknesses have been identified and the DBE is taking steps to address these with the Eastern Cape Department of Education.'
She said her department was rolling out a sector-wide 10-point infrastructure strategy designed to accelerate infrastructure delivery and strengthen accountability.
"As part of efforts to improve service delivery and financial management at a provincial level, the Minister of Basic Education recently requested all MECs and heads of provincial Education Departments to submit urgent written feedback on service delivery failures and personnel irregularities across provinces.'
She also said she has launched a coordinated response to restore financial discipline and protect core education services.
The national department wants all provinces to submit credible financial recovery plans ahead of the Council of Education Ministers meeting scheduled for July 21.
'These plans are to be assessed for alignment with national priorities and fiscal sustainability. The Minister has also requested the DBE's director-general to liaise with National Treasury and affected provinces to design appropriate support mechanisms.'
Gwarube said the DBE remained committed to providing technical oversight, supporting institutional capacity development and ensuring that public funds were utilised effectively to realise the educational rights of all learners across all provinces, including the Eastern Cape.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za
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