Mr Speaker, the UDM is pleased to hear that the Minister of Basic Education has finally heeded the call from the UDM and other opposition parties to use section 100 of the Constitution, which gives her the power to intervene in provincial administrations in instances in which a province fails to fulfil its mandate.
We welcome the Minister's decision to intervene in the crisis-ridden Eastern Cape education department. For far too long, learners and educators in the Eastern Cape have been disadvantaged by the chaotic state of the provincial education department, which negatively affects their ability to enjoy their fundamental constitutional right to education.
While we welcome the Minister's intervention to help capacitate the Eastern Cape education department, we urge the national department to come up with measures that will help learners recover the lost ground. We hope that whoever forms part of the task team that will work with the provincial leadership will demonstrate the highest level of leadership by putting the interests of the learners first. The UDM supports the Minister's intervention. Re a leboga, Minister. [Thank you, Minister.] [Applause.]