On Tuesday, 24 January 2012, the Committee convened at the East London International Convention Centre to engage with the relevant stakeholders prior to undertaking site visits. Participants in this meeting were the National Department of Basic Education, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), National Treasury, Provincial Treasury and the Provincial Education Department. In this meeting the Committee expected the Department to produce an outline of the project as well as to report on progress at the various construction sites. Much to the dismay of the Committee, the Director-General of the Department of Basic Education (DG) was not present at the meeting. Despite the fact that the invitations for the oversight visit were sent on 6 December 2011, the office of the DG had failed to submit an apology nominating another departmental official to represent him. The Committee then agreed to suspend engagements and reconvene on Wednesday, 25 January 2012, at which point the DG would be present.