When the academic year started, Eastern Cape Education had a turbulent time as there had been delays in the delivery of school items and parents had been vocal about this matter.
The Education Department received a court order to make deliveries before 31 March 2022.
It has been reported that the department had failed to meet the deadline.
The very same department was under scrutiny for returning an unspent R200 million that had been allocated to an infrastructure development grant to the National Treasury.
These events are said to have resulted in the Provincial Education Department Head Of Department (HOD), Dr. Naledi Mbude being suspended by the province’s Premier Oscar Mabuyane.
The Premier's spokesperson, Khusela Rantjie has confirmed that the HOD has been placed a precautionary suspension on full pay as an investigation into the department is pending.
Rantjie added that the Premier had afforded Mbude with the opportunity to state her case of why she shouldn’t be placed on suspension.
Eastern Cape legislature member, Yusuf Cassim has alleged that the suspension of Mbude has come after revealing that there had been concerning incidents that were in violation of the Public Finance Management Act within the department.
The department has confirmed to have delivered 98% of textbooks and stationery thus far.
Mabuyane has confirmed to be in support of the department attempts to resolve its challenges and shared that it was unfortunate that they would even be taken to court on something that they had voluntarily committed to.
In an interview, Malibongwe Mtima who is the department's media liaison officer said:
Unfortunately, the office of the Premier is the one who can allude to that and we are not at liberty to speak on that because of the protocols of the department.
It has been reported that Mahlubandile Gwase will be Mbude’s successor in the HOD role.
