Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has defended her suspension of the R1.6 billion Foundation Phase textbook catalogue, stating that an independent investigation identified ‘material problems’ despite clearing the main publisher of any wrongdoing. Speaking at the Cape Town Press Club on 14 September 2026, Gwarube said she would not be intimidated into lifting the suspension, which she imposed after the probe found issues of non-compliance and governance failures.

“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.”

Investigations Clear Publisher But Identify Material Flaws

The catalogue process for grades 1 to 3 was suspended in early September 2026, shortly after the publication of a report by Rakoma and Associates that cleared Lighthouse Publishers of fraud, favouritism, and manipulation. The Auditor-General of South Africa simultaneously flagged weaknesses in the absence of a formal policy and in declarations of interest, but concluded the screening process was applied consistently.

Senior counsel advocate Chris Erasmus provided a legal opinion describing the process as ‘fair, transparent, competitive and cost-effective’. However, Gwarube’s spokesperson, Lukhanyo Vangqa, said the report found ‘issues of non-compliance, governance failures and risk of irregular expenditure to provinces’, prompting the minister to keep the catalogue on hold.

Political Backlash From ANC And SADTU

The ANC parliamentary study group on basic education accused Gwarube of a ‘sensationalist approach’ and claimed she had no grounds to suspend the tender, describing her actions as rooted in ‘nothing but political survival’. Teacher union SADTU labelled the suspension ‘anti-transformation’, intensifying the political row within the Government of National Unity.

Gwarube rejected these characterisations, insisting that her duty was to ensure a fair process. She has instructed the director-general to work with provinces on procuring textbooks from the old catalogue for the 2027 school year, a stopgap measure that leaves the long-awaited update in limbo as political tensions persist.