THE Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) warehouse in Amanzimtoti will continue stocking the previously approved foundation phase school materials after the department maintained the suspension of the new national catalogue for grades 1 to 3.

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Situated at Southgate Business Park, the warehouse is a central hub for the procurement, storage, packaging, and distribution of school textbooks and stationery throughout the province.

DBE Minister Siviwe Gwarube recently said the decision to suspend the roll-out of the new national catalogue of learner teacher support material for the 2027 academic year is due to serious procurement irregularities, governance weaknesses, and compliance risks identified by an independent forensic investigation. The current catalogue was developed 15 years ago and is due for an overhaul.

“My first responsibility is to protect our learners and ensure that schools are ready for the 2027 academic year. I will not allow uncertainty around a procurement process to become uncertainty in our classrooms,” said Gwarube.

The suspension and investigation came after publishers complained about the bidding process and that one publisher had been unfairly awarded a large share of the R1.6b catalogue tender.
The investigation examined, among other issues, the broader processes used to develop, evaluate, and implement the new catalogue. While the investigation has made some findings, the legal consequences of those findings and the appropriate remedies still require independent legal advice. As a result, Gwarube has enlisted the services of the State Attorney to obtain senior counsel advice on the matter.

The minister emphasised that the findings must be addressed without placing the 2027 academic year at risk.

“The investigation has identified material problems that cannot be ignored. At the same time, millions of children cannot have their education placed on hold while those findings are properly addressed. We can and must do both: protect the integrity of the process and ensure that schools have the materials they need,” she said.

While the legal processes take place, Gwarube said the department will co-ordinate with provinces and other stakeholders to protect the ordering of study materials and distribution timelines.

The South African Democratic Teachers Union has condemned Gwarube’s actions, calling it political interference.

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