Mpumalanga education opens housing allowance fraud case against two officials
Two officials have been suspended over irregular housing allowance payments.
The Mpumalanga Department of Education (DoE) formally opened a case of fraud with the SAPS against two officials from the Ehlanzeni School District on June 29. This follows an internal investigation into allegations of fraud and corruption related to the irregular processing of housing allowances.
According to the DoE’s spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, the investigation found that the two officials had unlawfully manipulated the payment system by processing housing allowances outside their authorised Persal distribution code – an internal payroll system code that links public servants to their specific department and cost centre. These actions were carried out without the necessary approvals.
The transactions, which occurred between July and November 2024, led to educators and other officials from various districts unduly benefitting from housing allowance payments.
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“These payments were processed without compliance to established administrative procedures. The department has suspended the implicated officials to allow the investigation to proceed without interference,” Sambo said.
He added that the department would conduct an internal disciplinary hearing and reiterated its zero-tolerance approach to fraud, corruption and unethical conduct.
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“Public servants are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity and operate strictly within the bounds of the law. Any deviation will be met with the full might of the law. The department will not release the names of the implicated officials to safeguard the integrity of ongoing legal and disciplinary processes,” Sambo said.
