The Mpumalanga Education Department has suspended two officials allegedly involved in fraud and theft of over R3-million from the department’s coffers.
They allegedly paid money from the education department to fraudulent beneficiaries.
The department learnt about the scam and reported the matter to the Hawks.
The Hawks arrested the two officials including four of their family members.
The accused were released on bail on Monday by the Bushbuckridge Magistrates’ Court. The case has been postponed to 24 March next year for further investigation.
Mpumalanga Education Spokesperson Jasper Zwane says: “The department instituted the internal disciplinary processes which are currently underway and are about to be finalised. We want to welcome the arrests by the hawks on Monday. Our view is we will send a clear message to everyone who intends to do anything or wrong or corrupt activity within the department.”
