Gwarube distances herself from Lighthouse Publishers after controversial textbook award

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has publicly distanced herself from Lighthouse Publishers, the newly formed company that was awarded a R285 million share of a R1.6 billion Foundation Phase textbook contract, saying she does not know its owners.

Who said what in Parliament

Gwarube made the remarks during a question-and-answer session in the National Assembly after members raised concerns about the company’s role in the controversial procurement. She told MPs that Lighthouse Publishers was established days after the tender terms were issued and that the firm had no prior publishing history.

“I have no relationship with the company or its owners, and nor have I ever engaged with them,”

she said in response to questions from MPs.

Procurement responsibilities and oversight

The minister told the assembly that procurement processes and related administrative approvals fall under the authority of director-general Matanzima Mweli. She said she is not consulted on, nor does she approve, the redesign of the textbook catalogue model or any specific allocation to publishers.

“I am not consulted on, nor do I approve the redesign of the catalogue model. I don’t instruct any specific outcome in relation to any publisher or supplier, and I do not approve any allocation to work to Lighthouse Publishers or any publisher for that matter,”

she said.

Gwarube also told MPs that the matter raised serious legal, governance and procurement reputational risk for the department and that she had required the full procurement process to be subjected to proper scrutiny.

Investigations and actions taken

The minister said an internal audit process is being concluded and that she had appointed an independent law firm to conduct an urgent external investigation so the integrity of the process could be tested.

Gwarube said she had asked the National Treasury to investigate when the irregular contract was exposed, but that Treasury required more time for a deeper probe and was not confident it would meet the department’s timelines. On that basis, she appointed the external firm to provide the turnaround time needed to avoid delaying delivery of textbooks for the 2027 academic year.

“Until those processes are complete, it would be inappropriate of me to make conclusive assertions about any wrongdoing. But it would also be inappropriate of me to treat the matter as closed, before the relevant records approval and legal basis of the procurement have been properly tested,”

she said.

Whistleblowers and earlier inquiries

Gwarube told MPs she became aware of the issues when whistleblowers raised allegations in 2025 and that those whistleblowers also approached the press. She said she ordered an investigation at that time which found nothing untoward.

Pressed by EFF MP Eugene Mthethwa about due diligence, Gwarube said she was not responsible for the Public Finance Management Act but that the Act requires her to exercise oversight if there is a suspicion of wrongdoing. She said she would act to hold officials accountable should any irregularity be found.

Parliamentary questions

The line of questioning in the sitting included EFF MP Mandla Shikwambana, who asked who had approved the redesign of the textbook catalogue model, prompting Gwarube to reiterate that administrative approvals rest with the director-general.

Gwarube said she did not instruct any specific outcome in relation to Lighthouse Publishers and that she has no relationship with the company or its owners.

Next steps

The minister said an internal audit is being finalised and that the independent external law firm’s probe is under way. She indicated these processes are intended to test the approval records and legal basis of the procurement before any conclusive statements are made.