By Charmaine Ndlela
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has ordered an investigation into job-selling and sex-for-jobs allegations against its spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, despite Mahlambi and his wife saying the video containing the claims was recorded four years ago and was not factual.
Head of Department Nkosinathi Ngcobo directed that a full investigation be commissioned through an independent body after the video, which shows Mahlambi arguing with his wife, Metu, circulated widely on social media.
In the footage, Metu alleges that her husband was involved in selling teaching posts and had sexual relationships with educators seeking employment. She also alleges that he avoided publicly addressing claims about the sale of posts because he was implicated in the practice.
Mahlambi is the department’s Head of Communications, while his wife serves as its Umlazi District Director.
In a joint statement issued before the department announced its investigation, the Mahlambis said the footage had been recorded four years ago during a private marital dispute.
They expressed regret that an “intensely emotional moment” had entered the public domain and said many of the allegations and remarks made during the argument were emotional expressions arising from hurt, frustration, and anger rather than factual representations.
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“They should not be taken as an accurate account of our relationship or of either of our characters,” the couple said.
They apologised to members of the public who had been offended or disappointed by the contents of the video.
They said they had since worked through their personal differences through honesty, forgiveness and commitment and remained together and “stronger and more united than before”.
But the department said the seriousness of the allegations required a fair, credible and impartial investigation to determine whether they were true.
“The investigation will be conducted without fear, favour or prejudice, and all relevant evidence will be considered,” the department said.
It urged the public not to draw conclusions before the investigation was completed, saying all parties were entitled to due process.
The department said it would cooperate fully with the independent investigation and act decisively after receiving its findings.
It also appealed to anyone with credible information relevant to the allegations to provide it to the investigating body or the appropriate law enforcement authorities so that the matter could be thoroughly investigated.
The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has separately called for an urgent independent forensic investigation into the claims.
DA KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said the party was not making a finding of guilt against any individual, but added that the seriousness of the allegations and their potential implications for the department required an immediate independent investigation.
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Mngadi said the allegations, if proven, would represent a betrayal of qualified unemployed educators who had spent years seeking work through recruitment processes they believed were fair and transparent.
The DA said it had written to KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka requesting a forensic investigation and the preservation and examination of all potential evidence, including the circulating video and any supporting information.
The party said any criminal conduct identified during the investigation should be referred to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority without delay.
