Ntombelanga Pretty Labane (40), who is due to appear in court on fraud charges on June 13, earned over R1.2m as a teacher, despite allegations that she failed matric four times.

Labane appeared in the Amersfoort Magistrate’s Court on May 16 after the Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit arrested her for fraud. The case was postponed for further investigation.

According to a statement issued by the Hawks, it is alleged that on September 1, 2016, Labane applied for a business and accounting teaching position at Hlelimfundo Secondary School in Amersfoort.

Labane allegedly submitted a CV, copies of a fraudulent matric certificate, a BEd degree, and a SA Council for Educators (SACE) certificate to the school principal, who told the school management team to consider her application.

According to the statement, the team agreed she was suitable for the post and the principal informed the school governing body (SGB). The SGB also supported the decision, the Hawks said, and Labane was given an application document called an EDU 1 to apply.

The Hawks said that the SGB members and the principal signed the application forms on September 12, 2016. All the relevant documents were sent to the circuit manager in Volksrust, who allegedly signed and took them to the Department of Education district office in Ermelo.

After her application went through the mandated processes, Labane was employed, said the Hawks.

A whistle-blower, who alleged Labane did not pass matric, reported the matter to the Public Service Commission in Mpumalanga.

According to the Hawks’ statement, the matter was then investigated and findings and recommendations were made.

The principal, circuit manager and the district office were asked about the fraudulent matric certificate. They reported that they did not notice it was fraudulent because they do not have detectors to verify the validity of documents, said the Hawks.

The Public Service Commission referred the matter to the Hawks’ Secunda-based Serious Commercial Crime Investigation Unit for further investigation in July 2022.

During the investigation, the Hawks said it was discovered that Labane does not have a Grade 12 certificate and that she failed matric four times, in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

She allegedly used a forged matric certificate to apply to Walter Sisulu University, where she later obtained a BEd degree, and to apply for a SACE certificate.

The Hawks said that Labane abandoned her job when her alleged fraud came to light.

Provincial head of the Hawks Major General Nicholas Gerber applauded the team for the successful investigation that linked the accused to the crime.