Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has suspended a new R1.6 billion Foundation Phase textbook catalogue despite multiple investigations clearing the process of fraud, favouritism, and manipulation. The decision has triggered a fierce political battle with the ANC and teacher unions, who accuse the DA minister of acting out of political survival to protect legacy publishers.

Director-General Mathanzima Mweli told school governing bodies and unions on 3 September 2026 that the catalogue had received a “green light” from all investigations. These included probes by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), independent firm Rakoma and Associates, the department’s own legal services, and external senior counsel advocate Chris Erasmus.

The Rakoma and Associates investigation found no evidence of fraud, favouritism, manipulation, or evaluation irregularities in the catalogue process. The AGSA audit identified weaknesses, including the absence of a formalised policy and unclear rules around declarations of interest, but concluded the screening was consistent and fair.

Advocate Erasmus’s legal opinion described the catalogue process as “fair, transparent, competitive and cost-effective” and found no evidence of unlawful procurement. Gwarube’s spokesperson, Lukhanyo Vangqa, confirmed the minister received the Rakoma report several days before her suspension announcement and sought legal testing because the investigating firm was not a law firm.

Political Backlash From ANC And SADTU

The ANC parliamentary study group on basic education condemned Gwarube’s suspension as a “sensationalist approach” backed by “nothing but political survival.” The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to sanction the minister and alleged an improper relationship between her office, the DA, and News24.

SADTU has claimed the minister deliberately delayed the new catalogue to benefit established legacy publishers such as Via Afrika, Maskew Miller, and Naspers-linked entities. The union’s allegations remain unverified and have been rejected by Gwarube, who stated, “I will not be intimidated out of doing the work that this office requires, and I reject the suggestion that demanding a fair process is an attack on transformation.”

Catalogue Suspension And Legal Wrangling

The Foundation Phase catalogue for Grades 1–3 had not been updated for 14 years when the department announced the new version intended for the 2027 school year. A News24 report published on 28 April 2026 alleged that a small publisher, Lighthouse Publishers, had received the largest share of the R1.6 billion catalogue, prompting Gwarube to request a National Treasury investigation the same day.

Gwarube announced on 2 September 2026 that the catalogue would remain suspended and that provinces should use the old catalogue for 2027 procurement. The minister cited material non-compliance, governance failures, and risk of irregular expenditure to provinces as grounds for her decision, while defending her position at the Cape Town Press Club against accusations of being anti-transformation.

All investigations have cleared Lighthouse Publishers of wrongdoing, but the political dispute shows no sign of resolution as the department remains divided between the minister’s office and its director-general over whether to proceed with the textbook procurement.