VI. Following consultations with the Premier of Eastern Cape, Noxolo Kiviet and the MEC for Education, Mandla Makupula, the ruling party, coupled with the Education Ministry's visit to the Eastern Cape on the 27th January 2011, all parties agreed that an intervention was required to remediate the situation faced by the Eastern Cape Department of Education. VII. In view of the seriousness of these challenges, the Minister of Basic Education, Ms A Motshekga was obliged, in terms of her statutory obligations to take the steps required to ensure a sustainable turnaround of basic education in the Eastern Cape Province.