By Johannah Malogadihlare
The Gauteng education department has denied allegations by the Democratic Alliance of bursary fraud involving senior department officials.
Department spokesperson Steve Mabona told Inside Education that the allegations of fraud and corruption were fabricated.
The DA in Gauteng has demanded that the province’s education MEC Matome Chiloane launch an immediate investigation.
This follows reports that a group of anonymous department employees have accused HOD Rufus Mmutlana, and head of human resources, Kgabo Morifi, of allegedly running an elaborate scheme to coerce junior administrators into diverting payments and stipends intended for students funded by the department’s bursary scheme, the Gauteng City Region Academy.
However, Mabona dismissed the allegations, saying that students were being remunerated.
He also said that the MEC had not heard anything about the claims.
“The department has not received any complaint from employees regarding these allegations. If an employee has information of substance, such must be reported without fear,” Mabona said.
DA MPL Sergio Dos Santos said it had been reported that the employees had called on the Hawks to intervene.
“The accusations point to severe mismanagement and possible misuse of funding designated for students from underprivileged backgrounds”, Dos Dantos said. The DA warned the department that it would take action if Chiloane ignored the matter.
INSIDE EDUCATION
