Her latest defence is that saboteurs are to blame for the dumping of textbooks. 

Sabotage is a strange  claim to make. It implies that some people are deliberately trying either to ruin education in the province, or to undermine her, or the department, or they have  similar devious motives.  

How about plain negligence, laziness and dereliction of duty? There is no dearth of people who will take shortcuts rather than do the jobs for which  they are paid. It’s far easier to dump books rather than deliver them.

Her claim of sabotage smacks of paranoia and of course denialism. City Press, among others, says Motshekga knew a long time ago that there were serious problems with contractors who had been asked to deliver textbooks.

That is a claim she has not been able successfully to refute, despite bluster. What will make this minister accept that the crisis is her responsibility and that she must act accordingly, including offering her resignation? It seems she is incapable of appreciating the burden  for which she receives her inflated ministerial salary  

During last week’s ANC policy conference there were hopeful signs, amid reports that she was under pressure from delegates. However, that changed on Monday when the ANC’s parliamentary caucus defended Motshekga, praising her “great efforts” in Limpopo. 

Such support will only encourage more incompetent bungling.

Limpopo isn’t the only province where basic education is floundering.

The Eastern Cape is another basket case, with others not far behind. Without decent education millions of SA youth are doomed. 

With Motshekga in charge, their fate is sealed.