By: Khethiwe Mndawe
A controversial procurement scandal in the Mpumalanga Department of Education has raised serious concerns over corruption, mismanagement, and irregular spending—prompting the Head of Department (HOD), Lucy Moyane, to take a sudden month-long leave of absence. The scandal centers around the Department’s purchase of 22 laptops at an eyebrow-raising total cost of R2,020,883.45—an average of R91,858 per unit.
The storm erupted following a provincial legislature session, where Education MEC Landulile “Cathy” Dlamini disclosed the details of the transaction. Public outrage grew swiftly, with civil society and political opposition calling for accountability and transparency. Soon afterward, the department’s HOD, Moyane, quietly stepped away from her duties, further fueling suspicions.
Premier Mandla Ndlovu held a press conference this week to address the scandal and provide updates on the ongoing investigation. However, rather than calming public concern, his statements raised even more questions.
“Departmental officials irregularly specified the brand they required, instead of defining the functional needs,” said Ndlovu. “This led to a situation where only certain suppliers—mostly those representing a specific brand—were able to respond. Furthermore, the bidding process was limited geographically to the Mbombela area, which violated procurement policy.”
According to the Premier, an internal investigation revealed that some officials misled departmental leadership...
