Staff Reporter
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has denied allegations that MEC Sipho Hlomuka interfered in lease agreement processes for district offices, saying the claims are “incorrect and dangerously misleading”.
The department said Hlomuka’s role was limited to policy oversight and strategic leadership, including his 2025 budget vote commitment that the department would focus on reducing costs linked to office rentals and other accommodation.
“The MEC’s role does not extend to operational involvement in bid adjudication, supplier selection, or contractual negotiations,” the department said in a statement.
It said Hlomuka had not interfered in any procurement or lease agreement process, adding that all leasing and procurement decisions were conducted in line with the Public Finance Management Act, National Treasury regulations, and internal supply chain management procedures.
“At no point has the MEC interfered in any procurement or lease agreement processes,” it said.
The department said the allegations appeared to be based on an unsigned letter from a supposed whistleblower, which it said contained “wild and unrealistic allegations” against both the department and the MEC.
It said it respected the role of whistleblowers and the media in promoting accountability, but said such claims should be subjected to “logical verification of facts and timelines” and, where necessary, investigated through proper channels before being presented as fact.
“We do not intend to counter or respond directly to the letter or the articles on which they are based, but to highlight the baselessness of the accusation, which makes it clear that the letter was written to create a media storm rather than to bring attention to any real misconduct,” the department said.
The department said the lease contracts in question were entered into long before Hlomuka was appointed as the MEC responsible for education in KwaZulu-Natal.
It also rejected allegations that WhatsApp messages showed Hlomuka giving a direct instruction about the lease to the Deputy Director-General responsible for Infrastructure Development.
“The Department places on record that the DDG referenced in these claims is not responsible for office accommodation or leasing matters within the Department,” it said.
The department said office accommodation functions were managed through a separate directorate and handled in line with prescribed supply chain management processes.
It said any alleged communication with the DDG could not have influenced the lease agreement process because the function did not fall within that DDG’s area of responsibility.
“The suggestion of interference is therefore based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the Department’s organisational roles and responsibilities,” the department said.
It described the alleged WhatsApp communication as “a complete fabrication”.
The department said it remained committed to transparency and accountability and would cooperate fully with any formal investigation.
“We are confident that any such process will confirm that the contents of the letter have no basis in fact of logic,” it said.
The department said it remained willing to engage the media on developments of public interest and would continue focusing on its mandate of delivering quality education while ensuring administrative processes were conducted with integrity and in the best interests of the province.
INSIDE EDUCATION
