The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, has called on the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) to speedily explain how a school in Mthatha got to be an alcohol sale point.

Mr Feni said ECDOE should not hide behind claims of "investigating the matter".

The committee wrote to the department on Friday, seeking clarity on, among other matters, if any of the educators were involved in the sale inside a school premise, details of the liquor licence holder, and how or if the principal and the School Governing Body (SGB) had authorised the activity.

"It is irresponsible parenting for any school principal to allow such an activity as selling liquor inside school. The committee condemns this action and believes that it is enough grounds for disciplinary action. Schools cannot be turned shebeens thereby exposing our children to alcohol use."

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"This is wholly unfortunate, and the Department should speedily investigate, and appropriate sanction should be taken against all those found to be responsible of this devious and devilish act."

Members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) became aware of the Mthatha incident while they were occupied with responsibilities during the NCOP flagship programme, the Local Government Week in the Western Cape. Media reports indicated that the SAPS conducted a search at a school in Mthatha and found a class dedicated to selling alcohol.

Mr Feni said this was the worse form of irony, when township schools are lamenting shebeens operating too close to schools, this principal allows sale of alcohol inside a school premise. "Our sincere hope is that no educator is involved, and that the focus should be on the preliminary examinations that are on the go."

The committee wrote to the ECDOE last week seeking detailed clarity on the matter and the committee has the powers to invite the department to appear in Parliament if explanation is unsatisfactorily.