A company distributing workbooks for KwaZulu-Natal pupils has apologised for destroying about 100 rain-damaged books.

Basic education spokesman Panyaza Lesufi confirmed that an apology had been received from UTi, the company which is tasked with distributing workbooks to schools.

The books were destroyed at the company’s warehouse in Empangeni, where staff at that branch had decided the books were beyond repair.

The company said no schools had been affected and there was no evidence of “criminality” or “corruption”.

Once UTi had identified the schools for which the damaged books were intended, the workbooks were replaced and UTi delivered them directly to the schools concerned.

This replacement was done within two weeks, and no schools were compromised by non-delivery.

Lesufi pointed out that it was workbooks that were destroyed and not textbooks as had been previously reported.

Each and every pupil received a workbook containing exercises.

Lesufi said these workbooks also helped teachers to track the progress of pupils, but they did not replace textbooks.

-Sapa