Gauteng Department of Education

Department of Basic Education

Logo of the department
Department overview
Formed	2009
Preceding Department	Department of Education
Jurisdiction	Government of South Africa
Headquarters	Sol Plaatje House, Pretoria 25°44′30″S 28°11′20″E / 25.74167°S 28.18889°E / -25.74167; 28.18889
Employees	730 (2009)
Annual budget	R6,166.2 million (2010/11)
Ministers responsible	Angie Motshekga, Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty, Deputy Minister of Basic Education
Department executive	H M Mweli, Director-General: Basic Education
Key document	South African Schools Act, 1996
Website	www.education.gov.za

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is one of the departments of the South African government. It oversees primary and secondary education in South Africa. It was created in 2009 after the election of President Jacob Zuma, when the former Department of Education was divided.

The political head of the department is the Minister of Basic Education; as of May 2009^[update] this is Angie Motshekga. The department is headquartered in Sol Plaatje House, named after the author Sol Plaatje, in Pretoria. This South African ministry has been heavily criticized, especially during the 2012 textbook crisis.

In the 2010 national budget, the department received an appropriation of 6,166.2 million rand, and had 730 employees.

Department of Education CAPS Resources