THE DA has slammed the failure of the education department to spend the Schools Infrastructure Backlogs Grant for the Eastern Cape.
According to a statement by DA MPL Bobby Stevenson, R415-million or 26% of the R1.574-billion allocated to the Eastern Cape has been underspent. This money is allocated for the eradication of mud structure schools.
Stevenson said this had emerged in a briefing by National Treasury and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) to the Provincial Portfolio Committee on Finance on Wednesday in Bhisho, on the 2017 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill.
“The ongoing under-expenditure on education infrastructure in Eastern Cape schools by the national Department of Basic Education is not only a violation of the basic rights of learners but also denies them a leg-up on the opportunity ladder. Having a good education provides one with an opportunity to access a good job. Without these opportunities, millions of people in the Eastern Cape cannot escape the poverty trap that has been inflicted upon them by poor governance.”
Some of the reasons that were provided to the portfolio committee for the under-expenditure were delays in appointing contractors, the reappointing of contractors where the services of underperforming contractors were terminated delays in finalizing the merger and rationalisation of schools.
“This province cannot afford to lose R415-million particularly when it is specifically allocated to alleviate the plight of those learners who are subjected to mud structure schools. “
He said the DA believed that contractors who underperform should be called to account and their guarantees called up as well as being blacklisted.
“Every year since 2009 with exception of one year, the national department has failed to spend all of the money. This contributes to the structural poverty that grips the Eastern Cape. “