Media Statement: SAHRC denies it made any findings showing the Western Cape has achieved 100% text book delivery

ATTENTION: Editors and Reporters

13 May 2013

The South African Human Rights Commission has noted the statement by the Western Cape MEC for Education, Donald Grant in which he claims that the Commission has issued a report giving the Western Cape province 100 percent achievement in textbook delivery to schools for the 2013 school year.

As the Commission, we deny Mr Grant’s claims, and we would like to put on record that we have not made any finding in our investigation in to the non-delivery of textbooks across the country.

The report referred to in MEC Grant’s statement is an interim summary of the information provided, and reveals only what the provinces told the Commission during the hearings.

This could change when the evidence provided during the hearings is tested during the course of our investigation.

The Commission has elected not to declare the proceedings closed to facilitate a further consultative process with interested stakeholders who have not presented their submissions yet, and to, if need arises, elicit further clarification from provinces and government.

After all submissions have been received, a consolidated report on the state of delivery of learning material to schools in the nine provinces, including the Western Cape, and containing recommendations, will be submitted to Parliament for implementation.

ENDS

Issued by:
Isaac Mangena
Head: Communications
SA Human Rights Commission
0718848273