Congress of SA Students (Cosas) president Bongani Mani said Motshekga was only adding to the problems of President Jacob Zuma, who he described as an "old man".

"Show motherly love to the old man and resign," Mani said.

Speaking at a joint briefing by Cosas and the African National Congress Youth League, Mani said Motshekga had failed to deliver on opening the doors of learning and teaching.

"She must just take personal responsibility, admit her failure and resign," he said.

"We are tired of begging Angie [Motshekga] to resign. We have raised this issue within the movement. We have lost confidence in her. She must resign."

Motshekga was accused of failing to deliver on education, one component of the ANC's five top priorities.

ANCYL deputy secretary Kenosi Mosenogi said Motshekga had failed to take responsibility for the non-delivery of textbooks.

"To date, we have heard nothing but accusations and counter-accusations of sabotage."

Mosenogi said Motshekga had taken South Africans for granted by refusing to demonstrate leadership and act decisively to manage the textbook saga.

"She is incompetent, she compromised the future of the black child; as a mother we are worried about the future of children," she said.

Mani said Motshekga was not "untouchable".

"She might be the wife to the Chief Whip [Mathole Motshekga], [but] we will make her to resign. She might have the name Motshekga, but she is not untouchable."

The two organisations said they were worried that there were still mud schools and children learning under trees.

"We had committed to eradicate mud schools, however we are bombarded with images of young people who still have to huddle under trees in order to access their most basic right to education."