I would like to endorse the sentiments expressed by the hon Deputy Minister and support the member in conveying the condolences of the Ministry as well as the Department of Basic Education on the sad loss experienced by the school community. I certainly do appeal that as the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Transport we should be much more vigilant, particularly in regard to the transportation of learners.
With regard to the Eastern Cape intervention, it is being done precisely to deal with the issues of corruption, deviation from norms and inefficiencies within the system. As a result of the intervention at least transport has been restored, textbooks have been delivered and nutrition is being provided at schools. Indeed, the Department of Basic Education, Department of Public Service and Administration and the Treasury are hard at work in ensuring that the appropriate systems are put in place.
What we certainly have to do is ensure that we do not sacrifice the interests of our learners at the altar of political opportunism. In terms of our commitment to ensure that we provide quality education to our children, we are going to be resilient and relentless in our endeavour to ensure that all our children, wherever they might be, receive the best education.
The President himself has committed to accompany the Minister of Basic Education and a team of four other Ministers to ensure that we are able to address issues that have been raised in relation to this intervention. Section 101(b) is a complex and unprecedented intervention to occur in our democratic dispensation and clearly there may be certain difficulties in terms of interpretation. But that should not detract from our responsibility to ensure that we provide quality education.
We can inform the House that during the winter school vacation 22 out of 23 districts held classes to assist Grade 12 learners. We are doing everything possible on the basis of weekend classes to ensure that as we try to unravel the difficulties ... [Time expired.]