Media Statement: SAHRC reconvenes hearing into non-delivery of primary learning material

Attention: Editors and Reporters

18 April 2013

The South African Human Rights Commission will convene the second part of the hearings relating to the investigation into the non-delivery of primary learning materials to school across the country.

The hearing started on the 2nd of April 2013 following concerning reports around the non-delivery of school learning material, notably in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.
The Commission invited the presence of the Director-General at the Department of Basic Education and all provincial MECs of Education at the beginning of the hearing, to present oral and written responses to a listed number of questions around the challenges of delivery of learning material to schools.

Respondents and interested parties who have not presented their submissions to the panel will be afforded an opportunity to do so, and respondents who have presented may be requested by the panel to clarify certain points of enquiry should the need to do so arise.

The hearing is in line with the constitutional mandate of the Commission which includes the role of investigating human rights violations of the rights of children to basic education.
It is the intention of the Commission for this to be the final day of the proceedings.

Thirty days thereafter, a consolidated report on the state of delivery of learning material to schools in the nine provinces, containing recommendations will be submitted to Parliament for implementation and shared with the public.

Please note that these are closed proceedings, and are not open to the media.
Those expected to make presentations include only those provided with notifications in this regard. Should third parties wish to adduce any information before the Commission, they may do so in writing per email to nbreen@sahrc.org.za.

ENDS
Issued by:
Isaac Mangena
SAHRC Spokesperson
0718848273