AfriForum today submitted a letter addressed to Gauteng Premier David Makhura demanding the dismissal of Panyaza Lesufi, Gauteng’s MEC for Education. According to Henk Maree, Spokesperson for AfriForum, this demand follows in reaction to a long history of mismanagement and the division of communities by the MEC.
“It is a disgrace that the Premier still allows Lesufi to hold office despite the damage he has already inflicted on the Gauteng education system and on social cohesion in the country. The school admissions process is chaotic and he does not accept responsibility for his share in this crisis ‒ on the contrary, his latest announcements of so-called solutions only aggravate the situation, as the plans are impracticable and deprive parents of the right to decide about their children’s place, quality and language of education themselves,” Maree adds.
AfriForum’s comprehensive campaign against Lesufi’s abuses includes a petition where parents can support the organisation’s demand for his dismissal via the website (https://antiek.afriforum.co.za/en/lesufimustfall/), AfriForum’s Facebook page, or by sending an SMS to 32782 (R1).
In addition, AfriForum’s Anti-corruption Unit today filed criminal charges against Edward Mosuwe, Head of the Gauteng Education Department. These charges arise from the findings of the Auditor-General’s report of 2017/2018, including that more than R900 million of irregular expenditure had been incurred by the Department during the past financial year. The Department is overall guilty of irregular expenses to the value of more than R2 billion when the amounts of previous years are included.
“It is unacceptable that a Department that should be dedicated to the education of the youth of our country is wasting massive amounts in this manner. Lesufi must explain why, according to this report, his Department is guilty of misappropriating taxpayers’ money intended for the tuition of children,” explained Monique Taute, Head of AfriForum’s Anti-corruption Unit.
Maree urged the public to support AfriForum’s campaign. “We can no longer allow the placement crises and other examples of Lesufi’s misconduct to recur annually at the expense of the youth. Gauteng’s schools, parents and children deserve better.”