The Mpumalanga Department of Education has dismissed its chief financial officer, Thokozile Ntuli, following a disciplinary process into the purchase of laptops at prices described as well above market value.
Procurement under scrutiny
According to reporting on 18 August 2026, the transaction related to the purchase of 22 laptops by the department in December 2024 at approximately R91 482 per unit, an outlay that amounted to roughly R2 million. Concerns about the pricing were first raised by an anonymous whistle‑blower in February 2025, who alerted civil‑rights organisation AfriForum.
AfriForum subsequently launched a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to obtain records from the department and brought the matter to wider attention. The provincial premier issued a report into the procurement in May 2025 and pledged that disciplinary action would follow against those found responsible.
Sanction and recovery
Authorities have now dismissed Ntuli, who had authorised the purchase. AfriForum on Tuesday said it “welcomes” the dismissal and described the step as a necessary message about ethical spending.
“This is happening at the expense of the future of our youth and is detrimental to the country’s education system, which is already performing at alarmingly low levels,” said Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s head of cultural affairs, in comments reported on 18 August 2026.
The organisation also noted the department had recovered about 80% of the amount paid to the supplier and said the department had developed an audit action plan with “clear and measurable intervention steps” to strengthen internal controls. The department has not released further detail in the reporting available on who approved the supplier or the procurement route used.
Wider implications for the education budget
While the headline figure is just under R2 million for the 22 laptops, AfriForum and the premier’s earlier report framed the matter as symptomatic of weaknesses in procurement oversight. The organisation said the dismissal should serve as a warning to other officials and called for a thorough review of recent tender processes to ensure no other purchases were made at inflated prices.
The affair touches on two persistent pressures for provincial education departments: constrained budgets for learner support and the need to maintain robust procurement governance to protect public funds. Stakeholders have emphasised that misuse of education budgets directly affects learners and teachers, especially in poorer areas where resources are already limited.
- Transaction: 22 laptops purchased in December 2024
- Unit price reported: ~R91 482 per laptop
- Total: approximately R2 million
- Recovery: department said it has recovered about 80% of the funds
- Outcome: CFO Thokozile Ntuli dismissed after disciplinary process
What the department says and next steps
The reporting notes that the department has implemented an audit action plan intended to tighten internal controls, but it does not provide the full contents of that plan or a timeline for its implementation. AfriForum urged further scrutiny of the department’s tender processes to identify any other instances of inflated pricing and to pursue recovery where possible.
It remains unclear from available reports whether the department will pursue criminal charges or further administrative action against other officials or the supplier. The provincial premier’s earlier report, issued in May 2025, had promised disciplinary action; the dismissal of the CFO appears to be the first major personnel sanction announced publicly in the matter.
Context for parents and schools
For schools and parents, the episode underlines the importance of transparent procurement and the safeguarding of resources meant for teaching and learning. The recovered funds may mitigate the immediate budgetary loss but do not replace the need for stronger oversight to prevent recurrence.
| Item | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Number of laptops | 22 |
| Approximate unit cost | R91 482 |
| Approximate total cost | R2 million |
| Amount recovered | About 80% |
Further clarity from the Mpumalanga Department of Education on the procurement route, supplier selection and the full list of disciplinary outcomes would assist schools, parents and oversight bodies in assessing the systemic risks and in ensuring that public money is protected in future purchases.
This report is based on material published on 18 August 2026 by media outlets that covered the dismissal and the reactions from AfriForum and the premier’s earlier report. The department’s detailed internal findings and any outstanding steps remain a matter for provincial authorities to disclose.
