Following a weekend lekgotla  by the governing party’s national executive committee, secretary-general Gwede Mantashe said: "The NEC acknowledged that this is a serious failure on the part of government, the Department of Basic Education in particular, at both national and provincial level.

It is a failure to honour the right of every child to education, as enshrined in the constitution.”

Hear, hear. Several newspapers have interpreted this to mean the end of the road for Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. But that could be wishful thinking.

Clearly Motshekga must shoulder most of the blame.

That’s what ministerial responsibility entails. But President Jacob Zuma’s main interest is self-preservation.

Under attack from many quarters within the party, he cannot risk further alienating the ANC Women’s League, which Motshekga leads.

The three probes into the textbook saga allow the pro-Zuma camp to let the matter drag on long enough for the president to avoid acting against Motshekga before he faces a leadership contest at Mangaung in  December.

The  plan is   for the three reports on the textbook crisis  to be “reconciled” before being submitted to  Zuma.

“That final report should be the basis for any action to be taken, including action against any person found guilty of any misdemeanour,” says Mantashe.

It’s a classic   kick for touch.

In the meantime the government must at least do away with the system where middlemen are paid to arrange textbook deliveries.

These crooks are not needed.