South African President Jacob Zuma is facing growing calls from within ANC structures to hold Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga to account for an education debacle in Limpopo, where failure to receive textbooks may have caused 70% of grade 10 students to fail exams. Public protector Thuli Madonsela says her office is now investigating textbook problems in three provinces.
President Zuma reportedly defended Motshekga from calls by National Executive Committee for her to be fired. The situation puts Zuma in a difficult position as he works toward re-election as the ANC party leader, as Motshekga is the leader of the ANC Women’s League, a powerful voting bloc within the party.