Gauteng MEC reveals 41 serious corruption allegations in provincial schools

Gauteng’s education department has uncovered widespread financial mismanagement and governance failures in provincial schools, with 41 serious allegations recorded in an internal assessment covering 2023 through June 2026.

Findings from an internal assessment

The Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Lebogang Maile, spoke at a Sunday media briefing to release the assessment’s findings. The review logged 41 serious allegations involving individuals and structures charged with managing public resources and learner welfare.

The report recorded 22 incidents in 2023, 13 in 2025 and six newly registered cases by mid-2026. Those implicated include principals, School Governing Body members, finance officers, bursars, administrative staff, educators, general workers and service providers.

Areas and patterns of concern

Maile said the assessment identified venue bookings, scholar transport and undeclared donations as key corruption risks. He highlighted a practice where schools hire out facilities without declaring income, creating hidden revenue streams and undermining accountability.

The cases are spread across several districts. The Johannesburg East District accounts for 24% of recorded cases, followed by Ekurhuleni South at 15%, Johannesburg Central at 10% and Tshwane South at 7%. Together those four districts make up more than 56% of all recorded cases, the MEC said.

Examples cited in the report

Maile gave specific examples of alleged financial wrongdoing included in the assessment: at one primary school more than R1 million was allegedly misappropriated; at another primary school about R230,000 was spent through irregular procurement processes.

The report also found instances of inflated payments exceeding market values by up to 500%. At a high school, the assessment recorded that more than R2.2 million was overspent across two financial years. Maile said these sums represent resources not used for classrooms, books, meals and learner support.

Response and next steps

Describing the problem as systemic, Maile said:

“These are individuals and structures entrusted with public money, learner welfare, infrastructure, nutrition, teaching resources, and the daily functioning of schools. This persistence tells us that this is not a temporary problem but a structural one.”

Maile urged anyone with information about corruption to come forward and reminded the public of legal obligations under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA) of 2004. He said Section 34 of the Act requires individuals in positions of authority within government departments to report suspected corrupt activities involving R100,000 or more to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the Hawks.

The MEC released the assessment at a media briefing on Sunday and framed the findings as a call for strengthened accountability and reporting to address the identified risks in Gauteng’s provincial schools.