The Mpumalanga Department of Education has dismissed its chief financial officer, Thokozile Ntuli, following a disciplinary process linked to the controversial procurement of 22 Dell XPS 16 laptops at about R91,482.50 each.
The procurement, which took place in December 2024, attracted significant public attention after it emerged that the department had spent more than R2 million on high-performance laptops for 22 officials.
The laptops formed part of a contract that also included accessories such as wireless mice and laptop bags, as well as an HP printer.Â
The department said the devices were intended primarily for officials in its Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teams, as well as other officials whose operational responsibilities required high-performance computing equipment.
Mpumalanga Education MEC Lilian Masina reportedly confirmed Ntuli’s dismissal before the provincial legislature’s portfolio committee on education on Wednesday.
The department confirmed Ntuli’s dismissal in a media statement on Thursday, August 13.
“Following the conclusion of the disciplinary process, the departmental chief financial officer has been relieved of her duties,” the department said in a statement.
The department said the disciplinary process was conducted in accordance with applicable government prescripts.
It said Ntuli retains the right to pursue any available avenues of appeal or review.
“In the interests of procedural fairness, administrative justice and the integrity of the process, the department will therefore not comment on or deliberate upon the merits of the matter while any applicable processes may still be pursued,” it said.
The department said it remained committed to good governance, accountability, transparency and responsible management of public resources.
“Where shortcomings are identified, appropriate corrective measures will be pursued, and consequence management will be applied where required and in accordance with due process,” it said.
The department said the Office of the Premier has appointed Ndumiso Mokako as acting chief financial officer.
Meanwhile, Masina said the department had also developed and was implementing an audit action plan containing clear and measurable interventions to strengthen internal controls following the audit findings.
“We will continue to exercise greater vigilance over the management of public resources, strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure that public funds are utilised efficiently, effectively and strictly for their intended purpose,” Masina said.
She said the measures formed part of a broader institutional commitment to building an ethical, accountable and financially disciplined department capable of delivering quality services to the people of Mpumalanga.
HOD received written warning
The laptop procurement also resulted in the precautionary suspension of the department’s head of department, Lucy Moyane.
However, the disciplinary process against Moyane had since been concluded, and she returned to work.
Following a forensic investigation into the tender, Moyane faced five charges but was reportedly found guilty only of the first, relating to negligence in approving the Bid Adjudication Committee’s recommendation. She was issued a written warning.
In January 2026, IOL reported that the Mpumalanga provincial government said it had recovered R685,712.70 of the R855,712.70 it was seeking from a service provider in connection with the 22-laptop tender investigation.
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu welcomed the recovery but stressed the need to recover the outstanding amount.
“The recovery of the money is a positive step, but we must ensure that the full amount is recovered,” Ndlovu said.
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Simon Majadibodu
iol.co.za
