Overview

• The Johannesburg Commercial Crimes Court, sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court, convicted two former GDE staffers and an external accomplice of fraud, forgery and theft.
• Sentences included 10 years for one ex-employee with four years suspended plus two concurrent six-year terms, eight years for a second ex-employee, and a three-year term suspended for five years for the accomplice.
• The scam, uncovered in the Gauteng West District Human Resources office, involved creating and paying salaries to non-existent employees and cost the department about R3 million.
• The GDE’s Risk Management Unit opened the case after a school principal flagged irregularities, with SAPS taking the investigation forward.
• MEC Matome Chiloane and spokesperson Steve Mabona welcomed the outcome and pledged tighter internal controls to deter corruption and protect education funds.