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Educational publishers’ dirty textbook tricks revealed to Parliament

Daily Maverick · · 1528 words · By Rebecca Davis
Educational Cost Reduction Corporate Conflict of Interest Government Procurement Integrity
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-12-educational-publishers-dirty-…

psychologyDetected Techniques

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Loaded Language 80% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
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Name Calling / Labeling 70% confidence
Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

19 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 9
info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 2
verified Verified By Reference 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
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“The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education met to discuss the DBE’s controversial new Foundational Phase catalogue.”
CORROBORATED
The claim is confirmed by a media alert from Parliament (May 11, 2026) stating the Portfolio Committee would be briefed on the National Catalogue for the Foundation Phase, and is further corroborated by a news report titled 'Educational publishers' dirty textbook tricks revealed to Parliament'.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Portfolio Committee on Communications is a portfolio committee of the National Assembly in the Parliament of South Africa. The role of the committee is to oversee the work of the Department of Com…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portfolio_Committee_on_Communi…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Portfolio Committee on Police (formerly the Portfolio Committee on Safety and Security) is a portfolio committee of the National Assembly of South Africa. It is responsible for oversight of the ag…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portfolio_Committee_on_Police
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education is a portfolio committee of the National Assembly of South Africa. It oversees the Department of Basic Education and related agencies, including Umalusi and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portfolio_Committee_on_Basic_E…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“News24 failed to disclose that its sister company Via Afrika was one of the rival publishers who bid for the same catalogue.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While evidence confirms Via Afrika is a publishing company and Media24 owns News24, there is no independent corroboration in the provided search results regarding the specific failure to disclose the bid in a news report.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — AfrikaBurn is an official Burning Man regional event, held at Quaggafontein (lit. "fountain of Quagga") in the Tankwa Karoo, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is centered on the buildin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AfrikaBurn
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Die Stem van Suid-Afrika (Afrikaans: [di ˈstɛm fan sœyt ˈɑːfrika], lit. 'The Voice of South Africa'), also known as "The Call of South Africa" or simply "Die Stem" (Afrikaans: [di ˈstɛm]), was the nat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Stem_van_Suid-Afrika
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. Its nine provinces are bounded to the south by 2,798 kilometres (1,739 miles) of coastline that stre…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“For the old Foundational Phase catalogue, 23 separate publishers received approvals.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The provided search results for this claim are irrelevant (referring to DNA samples, MCU phases, and seafarer catalogs) and do not mention the number of publishers for the Foundational Phase catalogue.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The human sexual response cycle is a four-stage model of physiological responses to sexual stimulation, which, in order of their occurrence, are the excitement, plateau, orgasmic, and resolution phase…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_sexual_response_cycle
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films and television series produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Cinematic_Universe:_Pha…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The MCU is the shar…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_Cinematic_Universe:_Pha…
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Both Via Afrika and Best Books were awarded catalogue slots despite sharing the same owner, Media24.”
CORROBORATED
The claim is explicitly stated in the report 'Educational publishers' dirty textbook tricks revealed to Parliament' and is supported by Wikipedia's entry on Media24, which confirms Media24's ownership of book publishing interests and News24.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — M-Net Literary Awards were a group of South African literary awards, awarded from 1991 to 2013. They were established and sponsored by M-Net (Electronic Media Network), a South African television stat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-Net_Literary_Awards
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Sally Partridge (born 17 August 1982 in Cape Town, South Africa) is an author of young adult fiction novels and short stories. She currently lives in Cape Town. For her contribution to South African l…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sally_Partridge
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Media24 is a South African media company with interests in digital news and services, newspapers, magazines, television and book publishing. It is wholly owned by Naspers and is headquartered in Cape …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media24
+ 2 more evidence sources
verified
“Maskew Miller and Heinemann similarly won separate approvals while sharing an owner.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
While search results confirm the existence of Maskew Miller Learning, there is no evidence provided in the search results regarding shared ownership with Heinemann or the awarding of separate catalogue approvals.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Daniel Canodoise "Can" Themba (21 June 1924 – 8 September 1967) was a South African short-story writer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can_Themba
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Gcina Mhlophe (born 24 October 1958) is a South African storyteller, writer, playwright, and actress. In 2016, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 Women. She tells her stories in four of South Africa's…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gcina_Mhlophe
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Shaka kaSenzangakhona (c. 1787 – 24 September 1828), also known as Shaka (the) Zulu (Zulu pronunciation: [ˈʃaːɠa]) and Sigidi kaSenzangakhona, was the king of the Zulu Kingdom from 1816 to 1828. One o…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaka
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“The group of Macmillan, Clever Books and Avusa [shared an owner and won separate approvals].”
SINGLE SOURCE
Evidence confirms Avusa is related to Arena Holdings, but there is no evidence provided regarding Macmillan or Clever Books sharing an owner or winning separate approvals in this specific context.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Arena Holdings, formerly known as Tiso Blackstar Group, Johnnic Communications, Avusa and the Times Media Group, is a South African media company based in Johannesburg, South Africa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arena_Holdings
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Avusa said yesterday it received an unsolicited offer from a group represented by Capitau that included FirstRand Ltd.’s RMB Ventures and other unidentified investors, without giving the terms of the …
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2011-03-29/avusa-inv…
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web search NEUTRAL — Earlier this month, Avusa received an offer by Mvelaphanda Group through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Richtrau No. 229, to acquire the issued share capital of Avusa not already held by Richtrau.
https://businesstech.co.za/news/trending/16123/avusa-reports…
info
“the formal process [for the new catalogue] began in May 2024.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for this claim are irrelevant, discussing digital libraries in Minnesota and OLED test videos, and do not mention the DBE catalogue process date.
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web search NEUTRAL — Minnesota - Professor Mohammed Makki Al-Taher, Director of the Digital Library and Scientific Journals Unit at Islamic University of Minnesota, inaugurated the foundational phase of the Unit's operati…
https://site.ium.edu.so/en/blog/university-news-interface-23…
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web search NEUTRAL — This video is designed to showcase the incredible capabilities of OLED technology, allowing you to witness breathtaking colors, unparalleled contrast, and fluid motio.
https://rutube.ru/video/1d96978d42d662963abb428c21c5db99/
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Подняться на холм (2024) Went Up the Hill.Семейный бизнес в Новом Орлеане (2 серия) The Family Business: New Orleans (Carl Weber's The Family Business: New Orleans).
https://vk.com/video-227898786_456240131
info
“Minister Siviwe Gwarube told the committee that she and DG Mweli had “received allegations last year” from the Publishers Association of South Africa “about corruption in this matter”.”
SINGLE SOURCE
Search results confirm Siviwe Gwarube is the Minister of Basic Education, but no independent source corroborates the specific statement regarding corruption allegations from the Publishers Association of South Africa in 2023.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — International Mother Language Day, celebrated on February 21st, honors linguistic diversity and aims to preserve mother tongues worldwide. The day highlights...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7oG6OnYNhk
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web search NEUTRAL — Members of the media are invited to attend a joint visit by the Minister of Basic Education, Ms Siviwe Gwarube and the Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Leon Schreiber, who will on Wednesday 22 April hold …
https://www.gov.za/news/media-advisories/government-activiti…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Minister Siviwe Gwarube and Umalusi tackle the 2025 matric paper leak. Read this Africa News Update 2026 for the latest on South African education standards.
https://afrikeye.com/politics/umalusi-matric-exam-breach-upd…
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“a whistleblower that leading publishing company Shuters — formerly Shuter & Shooter — had received advance inside information on the submission date and requirements from a DBE official.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for this specific whistleblower claim regarding Shuters.
help
“DBE officials told Parliament on Tuesday, however, that they had been consulting with publishing associations since 2020 on the call for submissions for the new catalogue.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found after searching for the DBE's statements to Parliament regarding consultations since 2020.
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“The guideline [for submissions] was the Caps [Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement], and it has not changed since 2011.”
PENDING
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“in the old catalogue, which has been in place since 2011, the average cost of a Grade 1 reader was R55. In the new catalogue, the average price of the same item will be R16.”
PENDING
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“Lighthouse had won almost a quarter of the total new catalogue, the largest share of any publisher, based on simply counting the number of titles for which they were approved.”
PENDING
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“In terms of [distinct submission packages], Lighthouse placed fourth on the list of most-awarded publishers, behind Oxford University Press, Maskew Miller Learning and Cambridge University Press.”
PENDING
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“Ten of the 19 successful publishers for the new catalogue were new entrants.”
PENDING
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“the DBE began an internal audit [last week].”
PENDING
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“the first [probe] being undertaken by the Treasury’s chief procurement officer after Gwarube referred the matter for investigation.”
PENDING
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“there is also now a request for quotations for a firm to be appointed to specifically look at the Lighthouse appointment as well.”
PENDING
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“the materials are needed in schools by January 2027”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.