Cabinet: Motshekga won't be fired

2013-03-14 14:35

Angie Motshekga (File, Beeld)

Cape Town - Cabinet will not entertain any calls for Basic Education Angie Motshekga to be fired.

"Cabinet reiterates its support for Minister Angie Motshekga in her endeavours to improve the quality of education," acting government spokesperson Phumla Williams told journalists on Thursday, following the executive's regular fortnightly meeting.

Under her leadership the country had a better understanding of the problems facing the education system and this had enabled the government to provide realistic solutions, Williams said.

"There was never any discussion on firing of the minister," Williams said.

Talks focused on the progress Motshekga was making.

"Our education is improving steadily," Williams said.

Cabinet had also re-affirmed its commitment to education as the government's top priority. It had acknowledged the many achievements of the current administration under Motshekga's leadership.

In particular, it had noted the smooth opening of the 2013 school calendar year, continuous accessibility of education for all South African pupils, the significant improvement in the 2012 matric results, progress in mathematics and languages, as measured by the annual national assessments, and the department's steady progress in addressing infrastructure backlogs.

"These achievements point to a system that has turned the corner," Williams said.

Motshekga has come under fire, with calls for her resignation, mainly over her support for the proposal to make education an essential service.

"When they (Cabinet) engage with issues, they engage with issues on what we are trying to do as government, not on what other people are saying."

- SAPA