• Circular is not about protecting schools – it is about the MEC unlawfully protecting his department from being exposed.
• DA has written KZN Legislature Speaker, to demand withdrawal of unconstitutional directive.
• If this does not take place, we will escalate the matter to the Public Protector.
Note to Editors: Please find Sakhile Mngadi, MPL sound bites in English and isiZulu
The DA is outraged by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Education MEC, Sipho Hlomuka’s shameless endorsement of Circular 29 (view here) – a directive that blatantly attacks democracy by imposing a 30-day approval process for Members of the Provincial Legislature (MPLs) school oversight inspections.
The MECs actions are nothing more than an attempt to shield his department from scrutiny while KZN’s education system crumbles. His support for this unconstitutional directive is a disgrace and a direct assault on the provincial legislature’s authority.
MEC Hlomuka and his department have resorted to the oldest trick in the book – using bureaucracy to evade accountability. By enforcing this senseless red tape, the DoE has made it clear that it does not want to be held responsible for the shocking state of education in our province.
KZN’s schools are in crisis, with failing infrastructure, staff shortages, and a lack of resources. Yet, instead of welcoming oversight aimed at fixing these issues, the MEC is helping cover them up. The question is: What is he so desperate to hide?
The MEC and his Head of Department, Nkosinathi Ngcobo’s excuse, that this directive is meant to prevent political disruptions within schools, is an insult to the intelligence of every citizen in our province. There is a clear difference between political grandstanding and legitimate oversight inspections.
The DA has always condemned disruptive political activities within schools, including the recent reckless actions of the MK Party, which went viral on video. However, using this as an excuse to block elected representatives from doing their jobs is dishonest and manipulative.
Circular 29 is not about protecting schools – it is about MEC Hlomuka protecting his departments failings from being exposed.
The DA will write to KZN Legislature Speaker, Nontembeko Boyce, to demand that this unconstitutional directive be withdrawn. In the event that there is no immediate action, we will escalate the matter to the Public Protector.
We will not allow KZN’s ANC-run DoE to dismantle oversight and silence those tasked with ensuring accountability. This is an attack on democracy, and we will fight it with every means available.