This comes after two companies awarded a tender by the provincial Department of Education earlier this year were interdicted from delivering stationery to more than 2400 Section 20 schools – schools run financially by the department.

The high court order on Thursday came after the disgruntled directors of Freedom Stationery and Afropulse 46 – trading as Power Stationery – slapped the department with legal action last week.

Now almost 7000 pupils in the Eastern Cape could wait for at least another three weeks before receiving the necessary supplies for their school work.

In December last year, education superintendent-general Modidima Mannya announced the department's decision to suspend the stationery tender after irregularities were brought to his attention by a treasury advisory committee.

Freedom Stationery and Power Stationery were two of six companies awarded the tender.

However, just months after the companies were notified that the tender had been temporarily placed on hold, it was revealed that KwaZulu-Natal-based companies Impala Stationery and Premier Stationery had been awarded the tender.

Judge Elna Revelas handed down an order temporarily interdicting the department from entering into any agreements with Impala Stationery or Premier Stationery.

The stationery companies were accordingly prohibited from carrying out the terms of the contract.

In addition, all information pertaining to the awarding of the tender must be brought before the court for review by March 24.

Following yesterday's proceedings, Sarah Sephton from the Legal Resource Centre (LRC) in Grahamstown, said she was "devastated" and that the decision was prejudicial to the rights of children.

Sabelo Sikiti and Kathryn Kimberley

Daily Dispatch