Pretoria - The Presidency says it has noted reports by some media relating to the company EduSolutions and its role in the procurement of textbooks in Limpopo.
"There have also been unfortunate and baseless attempts to link the company's reported donations to the Jacob Zuma RDP Education Trust to the textbook tender," said the Presidency in a statement.
Reacting to reports that EduSolutions - the firm contracted by the state to buy and deliver textbooks across South Africa - had made donations to President Zuma's trust, the high office said many companies donated to charitable organisations in South Africa, including the President's education trust.
The Presidency said donors did not have any preferential treatment with regards to government tenders or any other state business - neither were they exempted from any investigation if state agencies believed there was a need, simply because they were donors to a charity linked to the President.
"They are treated like any other company by government departments. At the same time, it does not mean such companies are automatically guilty of any wrongdoing, also by virtue of being donors to a charity linked to the President," explained the Presidency.
EduSolutions - like all other procurement activities in the Limpopo Department of Education - has been under investigation by the National Treasury and other law enforcement agencies since the province was put under national administration - Section 100 (1)(b) of the Constitution.
According to the Presidency, the means to procure and deliver learning, teaching and support materials (LTSM) was through EduSolutions based on the existing contract with the Limpopo Department of Education.
The Basic Education Minister sought legal opinion on the contract. The opinion suggested an invalidation of the contract. This happened at the same time that EduSolutions was under investigation by government's Anti-Corruption Task team located in the National Treasury.
The Presidency said the contract was then terminated and new means to procure and deliver LTSM had to be sought.
It added that the investigation of EduSolutions was best placed at the hands of state investigation units that specialise in this task.
"The President has full confidence in these agencies and they should be given the space to do their work," said the Presidency.
