Forensic Investigators Call for Former Mpumalanga Education MEC to Face Public Protector Over R2-Million Laptop Scandal

Forensic Investigators Call for Former Mpumalanga Education MEC to Face Public Protector Over R2-Million Laptop Scandal

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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MBOMBELA — The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has formally written to Premier Mandla Ndlovu, demanding that he implement outstanding forensic recommendations by reporting former Education MEC Cathy Dlamini to the Public Protector over a high-profile laptop procurement scandal.

The controversy dates back to December 2024, when the Mpumalanga Department of Education purchased 22 laptops through a service provider, BoTau Technologies. The company was later exposed for heavily overcharging the department and failing to deliver the specific devices that taxpayers had funded. The inflation of prices was brought to light by a whistleblower in February 2025, prompting the Premier to launch an official forensic investigation.

A detailed forensic report, which has been reviewed by the DA, reveals that the department irregularly splurged over R2 million on the 22 laptops, which equates to an astronomical cost of R92,000 per single laptop.

Former MEC Omitted from Accountability

The initial phase of the forensic probe targeted the Head of Department (HOD), Lucy Moyane, alongside other senior departmental staff. In May 2025, acting on the investigator's initial findings of gross procurement irregularities and alleged dishonesty, Premier Ndlovu suspended HOD Moyane and the implicated officials.

Following the fallout of the procurement scandal, Dlamini ultimately lost her cabinet post as the MEC of Education.

However, the DA points out that the Premier failed to act on a critical directive in the final forensic report: formally referring Dlamini to the Public Protector. The investigators concluded that the former MEC must be investigated in terms of Section 4(1)(b) of the Executive Members' Ethics Act 82 of 1998, given her role as the political and accounting executive of the corrupted department.

Calls for Blacklisting and Criminal Charges

In addition to targeting political leadership, the opposition party is pushing for swift retribution against the private contractors involved. The forensic report explicitly recommended that the Mpumalanga Provincial Government immediately move to blacklist BoTau Technologies on the National Treasury Register for Tender Defaulters, citing both the exorbitant overcharging and the company's grossly dishonest conduct during the formal investigation.

The DA has confirmed it will expand its push for accountability by writing directly to the current MEC of Education, Lindi Masina.

MEC Masina will be urged to report all suspected criminal elements—including potential collusion between officials and the service provider—to law enforcement agencies under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) of 1999 and the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act of 2004. Furthermore, the DA is demanding that the department carry out the forensic report’s recommendation to subject all implicated senior officials to comprehensive lifestyle audits.

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SIU Welcomes Arrests, Convictions, and Preservation of R27 Million in Siphoned UIF-TERS Funds

SIU Welcomes Arrests, Convictions, and Preservation of R27 Million in Siphoned UIF-TERS Funds

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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MIDDELBURG — South Africa’s corruption watchdogs have secured a massive victory against pandemic-era looters, successfully freezing luxury assets and locking down over R27 million in stolen COVID-19 relief funds across two provinces.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), working alongside the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), announced major breakthroughs in Mpumalanga and the Free State. The multi-agency operation targeted syndicates and businesses that used identity theft and "ghost employees" to siphon money from the Unemployment Insurance Fund’s Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (UIF-TERS).

The Mpumalanga Syndicate: R26.9 Million Extracted via Ghost Workers

In the most severe case, three suspects appeared before the Middelburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 18 May 2026, facing heavy charges of fraud and money laundering.

Fumu Mkalira Msiska (48), his wife, Gladness Mkhonto Msiska (48), and his brother-in-law, Bongani Zoran Mkhonto (39), allegedly ran an aggressive, six-month identity fraud scheme in 2020. The SIU revealed that the trio fabricated hundreds of fake employees every month to redirect millions into private bank accounts.

The scale of the alleged monthly ghost employee claims grew steadily throughout the pandemic:

April 2020: 724 ghost employees

May 2020: 587 ghost employees

June 2020: 743 ghost employees

July 2020: 763 ghost employees

August 2020: 767 ghost employees

September 2020: 773 ghost employees

Investigators found that the funds were channeled from an entity called A and F Consulting into Khulani Quality Contribution, a company tied directly to Msiska’s wife. The brother-in-law, Mkhonto, allegedly served as the syndicate's "runner," harvesting ID numbers from unsuspecting victims in Mpumalanga and the North West under the guise of free driving license applications or special grants. Some personal records were even stolen directly from a local Sheriff’s Office.

The court granted bail of R300,000 each to Mr. and Mrs. Msiska, while their co-accused runner, Mkhonto, was granted bail of R3,000.

Fleet of Luxury Vehicles and Real Estate Frozen

The High Court of South Africa, Mpumalanga Division, issued sweeping preservation orders to strip the suspects of their allegedly ill-gotten wealth. The Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) immediately seized bank accounts, household equipment, and real estate holdings in Pretoria, Middelburg, and White River.

The state also confiscated an extensive fleet of vehicles, including:

2019 Land Rover Range Rover L560

2015 BMW X6

2019 Mercedes-Benz V250D

2011 Toyota Fortuner

2005 Mercedes-Benz C180 Kompressor

2010 Caterpillar backhoe loader

Free State Businessman Sentenced to Repay Stolen Funds

Simultaneously, the Heilbron Magistrates’ Court in the Free State handed down a decisive conviction against Ente Thibello Sekhoto (51) and his firm, Batlokoa Circle 12 Plaster Services (Pty) Ltd.

An SIU forensic audit discovered that Sekhoto fraudulently claimed R201,812.36 in relief benefits for individuals who never worked for his plastering business. Sekhoto was found guilty of fraud and money laundering and has been ordered by the court to jointly repay the Department of Employment and Labour every cent of the stolen money within the next four years.

The Human Toll of ID Theft: The real-world impact of this corruption came to light when a KwaZulu-Natal mother tried to claim her rightful maternity benefits. Her application was blocked because a company named Consulting Engineers had already used her stolen details to claim fraudulent COVID-19 TERS benefits without her knowledge, sparking the wider Hawks probe.

The SIU emphasized that under Proclamation R08 of 2021, it maintains the absolute authority to launch civil proceedings in the High Court or Special Tribunals to reverse financial damage inflicted on state organs. Law enforcement agencies reiterated that they will continue to track down and claw back public funds intended for vulnerable South African workers.

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Minister Manamela Defends Oversight Postponement, Cites Ongoing NSFAS Litigation

Minister Manamela Defends Oversight Postponement, Cites Ongoing NSFAS Litigation

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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PRETORIA — Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has broken his silence regarding the controversial postponement of the parliamentary oversight meeting scheduled for May 19, clarifying that he was legally and logistically prepared to account to lawmakers.

The Minister's statement follows a sharp political backlash from opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who labeled the meeting’s cancellation "unprocedural" and an attempt to evade executive accountability.

According to Minister Manamela, the postponement was not a snub to Parliament but a necessary response to ongoing legal battles. The department is currently locked in urgent litigation instituted by former board members of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) who are challenging the Ministry’s decision to dissolve the board and place the student funding body under administration.

"The Minister had confirmed his availability and readiness to appear before the Committee in fulfilment of his constitutional responsibility to account to Parliament," the Ministry said in a statement. "The postponement occurred in the context of urgent litigation proceedings instituted by former NSFAS Board members relating to the decision to place NSFAS under administration."

Manamela strongly defended his sweeping interventions at NSFAS, maintaining that his decisions were legally sound and necessary to rescue the critical public institution from collapsing under financial mismanagement.

The Minister reiterated that his executive actions have been strictly guided by the need to protect student funding continuity, restore governance stability, strengthen internal accountability, and safeguard the scheme for poor and working-class students.

Amid threats from opposition benches to drag the matter before the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manamela sought to de-escalate tensions by reaffirming his commitment to the legislature. He confirmed that his office will constructively engage the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training to secure a suitable future date for the briefing.

"Government remains focused on ensuring operational stability at NSFAS while respecting the ongoing legal process and the constitutional role of Parliament," the statement concluded.

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South Africa, Botswana Deepen Ties at 6th Bi-National Commission in Gaborone

South Africa, Botswana Deepen Ties at 6th Bi-National Commission in Gaborone

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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GABORONE — South Africa and Botswana have moved to accelerate cross-border industrialization, bolster regional security, and confront the complexities of irregular migration during the Ministerial Session of the 6th Bi-National Commission (BNC) on Wednesday.

The high-level bilateral meeting, hosted in Gaborone, was co-chaired by South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola and his Botswana counterpart, Minister of International Relations Dr. Phenyo Butale.

The session opened under a somber cloud following the recent passing of Botswana’s former President Festus Mogae. Minister Lamola expressed deep condolences to President Duma Boko and the Batswana people, praising Mogae as a "towering giant and African statesman" whose legacy of Pan-Africanism was honored by Deputy President Paul Mashatile during the state funeral.

Turning to economic matters, Lamola highlighted that three new bilateral agreements would be signed during the summit, expanding on an existing framework of 28 agreements.

"South Africa is a major trade and investment partner of Botswana," Lamola said, stressing that South Africa’s agricultural exports and private investments are complementary to Botswana's economic diversification goals outlined in its National Development Plan 12. "Our interests in this sector are complementary. They are not mutually exclusive, nor are they in competition or contradiction."

Economic integration will see a major boost with infrastructure upgrades, including Botswana's plans to establish a One-Stop Border Post at the Tlokweng/Kopfontein border to ease transport congestion. South Africa’s development finance institutions, such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), are actively engaging Batswana partners on critical transport, energy, and water management projects.

Furthermore, Lamola urged joint collaboration in the mining sector amid intense global interest in critical minerals, ensuring both nations have a strategic say in how resources are extracted, beneficiated, and utilized.

A key focus of the ministerial discussions centered on regional migration. Lamola defended migration as a positive force for regional development when managed effectively, but directly addressed South Africa's domestic challenges.

"Migration itself is not a problem. The challenge facing South Africa is irregular migration and a high influx of illegal foreign nationals or migrants," Lamola stated.

He called for an honest, continent-wide dialogue within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regarding the "push and pull factors" of migration and championed the principle of "burden sharing" between countries of origin, transit, and destination. Lamola also reaffirmed that the South African government has deployed strict law enforcement to prevent xenophobic attacks, maintaining that "no one may take the law into their own hands."

Looking ahead to regional leadership, with South Africa serving as interim Chair of SADC and preparing to assume the official Chairmanship in August, Lamola emphasized that "Silencing the Guns" remains a paramount objective to protect economic development from regional instability.

The ministerial council concluded by finalizing its report for the upcoming Summit session between the two countries' Heads of State.

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Parliamentary Intervention Over 'Unprocedural' Cancellation of NSFAS Oversight Meeting

Parliamentary Intervention Over 'Unprocedural' Cancellation of NSFAS Oversight Meeting

BY : CHANON LECODEY MERRICKS ONLINE EDITOR KASiBC_AFRiCA

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EFF Applauds Parliamentary Intervention Over 'Unprocedural' Cancellation of NSFAS Oversight Meeting

CAPE TOWN — The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have welcomed a decision by National Assembly House Chairperson of Chairs, Cedric Frolick, to intervene following the abrupt and controversial cancellation of a critical parliamentary oversight meeting.

The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education had been scheduled to meet to hold Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela accountable for alleged misconduct, ethical failures, and severe governance issues plaguing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

The EFF launched an urgent intervention, arguing that the cancellation was irregular and shielded the executive from necessary scrutiny. Following a high-level meeting, Frolick—who oversees committees, oversight, and public participation—concurred with the red berets, ruling that the postponement breached established parliamentary procedures and oversight practices.

To rectify the situation, the meeting with the House Chair yielded three major procedural resolutions:

Urgent Committee Convocation: Frolick will formally write to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, directing them to urgently schedule a meeting specifically to address the Minister's conduct.

Escalation to the Speaker: The ongoing controversy surrounding Minister Manamela’s compliance will be escalated directly to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza for further intervention.

Legal Services Deployment: Parliamentary Legal Services officials will be deployed to participate in the upcoming committee proceedings. They will advise lawmakers on the constitutional ramifications of an executive minister defying parliamentary directives or refusing to cooperate with oversight processes.

The EFF characterized the breakthrough as a vital victory for accountability, asserting that executive ministers cannot treat parliamentary oversight as optional or conditional based on their personal convenience.

"Parliament has a constitutional obligation to act decisively whenever there are allegations of maladministration, governance failures, corruption, and/or executive misconduct," the EFF said in a statement. "We regard today’s intervention as an important step toward restoring procedural integrity, defending the authority of Parliament, and ensuring that committees of Parliament are not undermined through unilateral or irregular conduct."

The EFF added that it remains committed to robust oversight, vowing to safeguard the independence of Parliament against political interference or executive overreach.

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