KEY POINTS
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Mpumalanga’s education HOD Lucy Moyane suspended after R2 million laptop tender scandal.
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Each laptop allegedly cost over R91,000; the supplier delivered substandard equipment.
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Premier Ndlovu demands disciplinary action, fund recovery, and supplier blacklisting.
The head of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, Lucy Moyane, has been suspended in connection with a controversial procurement deal that saw the department spend R2 million on 22 laptops and a single printer—an amount that equates to about R91,400 per laptop.
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu confirmed Moyane’s suspension on Wednesday, following preliminary findings from the province’s integrity unit.
The investigation flagged Moyane and seven other officials for their roles in the procurement, which has now come under serious scrutiny for violating constitutional and financial regulations.
“The procurement process of the 22 laptops and a printer was flawed… it does not comply with Section 217 of the Constitution and relevant provisions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA),” Ndlovu stated during a press briefing earlier this month. “The process cannot be said to have been fair, equitable, transparent, competitive or cost-effective.”
Supplier delivered substandard equipment to Moyane
According to the premier’s office, not only were the costs exorbitant, but the supplier failed to deliver equipment that matched the specifications approved in the original order. “We are not going to tolerate fraud,” Ndlovu added. “We will institute disciplinary actions against all officials involved, including the HOD.”
Sowetanlive reports that the suspension comes as part of broader recommendations from the integrity unit, which also called for the recovery of the misused funds and the blacklisting of the supplier involved. The department has been ordered to report the supplier to the National Treasury, which maintains a registry of vendors prohibited from doing business with the government.
George Mthethwa, spokesperson for the premier’s office, confirmed Moyane’s precautionary suspension and said more details on the disciplinary steps would be provided on June 30.
“This is a necessary move to allow for the implementation of the recommendations from the investigation. Further updates will follow as the situation unfolds,” Mthethwa said.
The R2 million purchase triggered widespread concern not only over inflated pricing but also about potential corruption, as the procurement process appeared to bypass essential regulatory frameworks.
Public accountability advocates and opposition leaders have seized upon the case as emblematic of deeper problems in government procurement, especially within provincial education departments that are already under pressure to deliver essential services amid budget constraints.
This case adds to a growing list of questionable procurement practices across government departments, reinforcing calls for tighter controls, better oversight, and harsher penalties for financial mismanagement.
