Education chiefs at war

IT is no secret that there's no love lost between Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga and Modidima Mannya, the superintendent-general of the Eastern Cape Department of Education.

Such is the animosity between the two that Eastern Cape politicians believe they have fallen out at a personal level, while others have gone as far as saying that they are related.

But what is clear is that neither of them has anything kind to say about the other.

On Mannya, Motshekga says: "I don't know him from a bar of soap. I don't know his mother, I don't know his father, I don't know where he comes from."

"I told the premier [Noxolo Kiviet] that I don't want [Mannya] . . . He is an obstacle."

"The province has resisted removing him, so legally I can't remove him."

"All the delay [to the implementation of Section 100 (1) (b)] has been around the accounting officer [Mannya]."

About the minister, Mannya says: "I don't have an opinion on her . . . but I love the president."

He blames Motshekga for the late delivery of textbooks. "The catalogues for the foundation phase were meant to be released but that was only done in October. That's the main reason for the delay. [Motshekga's] department must take full responsibility for the delay."

"We don't have to be friends to work together."

"I was an advisor to her husband in 1998. I am no relative of hers."

"It's a pity that I can't sue. I have to ask the premier for the right to sue. I don't think [the premier] will give me that permission. I would take legal action against [Motshekga] for defaming me."