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Gauteng learners continue to suffer without much-needed learning materials while the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is dragging its feet in finalising all the cases regarding procurement irregularities and financial misconduct.

Should these cases have been finalised on time the money would have been recouped and used to improve the quality of learning and teaching.

Only eight out of 29 cases of procurement irregularities and financial misconduct have been finalised.

This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, in a written reply to the DA’s questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).

These investigations are based on the Auditor General (AG) report on the Annual Report for the 2021/22 financial year. Some students and officials have been implicated in fraud, mismanagement of funds, corruption in the procurement of tenders and appointment irregularities.

The demands that MEC Chiloane, must not waste time but open criminal cases against the officials and students implicated in the following schools:

• Richfield Graduate Institute was defrauded of over R65 000 by a student who submitted a fraudulent letter to receive a bursary,
• Mismanagement of over R400 000 at Theresa Park Primary School,
• Gauteng City Region Academy CEO allegedly removed functions of budgets from managers and centralised them in her office for her own personal gain,
• Irregular staff appointments at Mayfield Primary School, no receipts recorded of money received at the school that amounts to R14 690.50,
• Meredale Primary School mismanagement of R2 million,
• Misrepresentation at EP Bauman Primary School, where two staff members were paid salaries while no longer employed at the school,
• General Beyers staff member stole laptops and computers,
• Mismanagement of funds at Bokamoso Primary School.

The DA welcomes the disciplinary actions taken against some of the staff members at these schools. However, we demand that those found to be guilty of theft of school funds must be fired and pay back every cent stolen.

We will fight for justice for our learners as our schools cannot be administered by criminals.

Issued by Khume Ramulifho MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education