"The IFP aligned South African Democratic Students Movement (SADESMO) urges all relevant stake holders to put maximum effort in addressing the issues affecting Basic Education in South Africa," said Secretary-General of SADESMO, Thabiso Dlamini, today.

"It is high time for the Ministry of Basic Education to learn that this is not a go-alone project. All stake holders, including student representative organisations, must be involved in order to stop the ever downward spiral that has engulfed the department. To this end SADESMO has written to the Ministry of Basic Education seeking an urgent appointment with the Minister with the intention of sharing some of our insights and practical proposals with her," said Dlamini.

"SADESMO is deeply concerned about the continued existence of mud schools in the Eastern Cape, for instance, where learners are subjected to harsh conditions which are not conducive to learning. How can they be expected to excel without the basic infrastructure required," he questioned. "It is a disgrace that Ministers ride around in blue light entourages and yet learners are left vulnerable to the harsh extremities of the weather," Dlamini added.

"Heads need to roll in Limpopo after the failure of the Department of Basic Education to get books to schools on time. We regard this as a crime against humanity and believe that appropriate action needs to be taken for subjecting learners to this crime with far reaching consequences for their futures," he stated.

"SADESMO is eager to meet with the Minister in the hope that we can play our part in fixing Basic Education for a prosperous tomorrow, as we believe that education is the stepping stone to economic liberation," Dlamini concluded.