Overview
- Minister Siviwe Gwarube asked Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to have the National Treasury investigate possible non-compliance in the foundation-phase textbook buy.
- Her spokesperson said the department will wait for Treasury guidance and will act if the inquiry confirms wrongdoing.
- The request follows News24 reporting that Lighthouse Publishers was registered days after the terms of reference were issued and could earn more than R285 million from approvals to produce Grade 1–3 materials.
- The new books are set to replace 2012 editions in 2027 for about 13.7 million learners, which means any rerun of the process could delay textbooks reaching classrooms.
- Education activist Hendrick Makaneta supported the call for a probe, and a parliamentary briefing has been requested as public scrutiny grows.