Billion-Rand School Tender Sparks Major Backlash
A major procurement dispute has erupted in South Africa’s education sector after a billion-rand textbook tender was awarded to a company with no prior publishing track record, prompting calls for an urgent investigation.
Parliament’s Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries has criticised the process, describing it as deeply flawed and lacking proper oversight. The controversy centres on the appointment of Lighthouse Publishers, which was reportedly established just days after the Department of Basic Education (DBE) outlined requirements for its Foundation Phase book catalogue.
Committee chairperson Makhi Feni questioned whether adequate due diligence had been conducted, raising concerns about both the credibility of the bidder and the quality of the materials approved.
The Foundation Phase catalogue is a key initiative aimed at improving literacy and numeracy among early-grade learners, particularly through the inclusion of mother-tongue educational resources. However, critics argue that the process has sidelined legitimate publishers, including smaller and black-owned businesses, which were allegedly not given fair access to the submission process.
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has since requested Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to initiate an investigation into the procurement process.
The tender, valued at approximately R1.6 billion, saw thousands of titles approved from multiple publishers, with Lighthouse Publishers receiving a significant share of the approvals. Reports indicate the company could benefit substantially from the contract, despite questions about its experience and operational capacity.
Lighthouse Publishers has denied any wrongdoing.
Feni has called for the entire process to be restarted to ensure transparency and fairness, warning that the current situation risks undermining efforts to transform the education publishing sector.
The committee says it will continue to push for accountability as concerns grow over procurement practices within the department.