According to a media statement issued by the Mpumalanga Provincial Government the allegations have been circulated in various media platforms, including social media.

It is further alleged that an amount of R6.5 million has been spent to pay the salaries of the purported ghost workers.

The Provincial Government is deeply concerned about these allegations, more so because they are not new. The government refutes them unequivocally, and view them as a distraction in the efforts of the 7th administration, to entrench ethical principles.

When they emerged for the first time in October 2024, the Department of Education made it clear that there was no material evidence either in the Annual Report or in the Auditor-General’s Report to substantiate the claims of ghost employees.

Furthermore, the Department stated that a comprehensive physical verification was conducted by the Provincial Treasury in February 2023, and the outcome of such process confirmed that there were no instances of ghost workers on the payroll.

The government wishes to put it on record that isolated cases may arise in any institution, where an employee passes away shortly after a salary run has been processed. These are referred to, in administrative terms, as “late terminations”.

The Department has implemented a proactive advocacy and an administrative programme to reduce these late terminations. It continues to strengthen the payroll integrity.

To ensure that the record is corrected and constructive engagement continues, the Department has resolved to write formally to the Portfolio Committee on Education, where the allegations emanated, to clarify this matter and seek further guidance.

The Provincial Government and all Departments are determined to build a capable, ethical and developmental state, as one of the apex priorities of the 7th administration.