Gauteng MEC exposes alarming levels of corruption in provincial schools
Gauteng MEC for Education, Sports, Arts and Culture, Lebogang Maile, has voiced grave concerns over rampant corruption, maladministration, and systemic failures plaguing public schools across the province.
Speaking at a Sunday media briefing on Sunday, Maile released findings from an internal assessment that exposed widespread financial mismanagement and governance issues.
The assessment, reflecting data from 2023 through June 2026, recorded an alarming total of 41 serious allegations against individuals and structures entrusted with safeguarding public resources and learner welfare.
This includes principals, School Governing Body (SGB) members, finance officers, bursars, administrative staff, educators, general workers, and service providers. Among these cases, a startling 22 incidents were reported in 2023 alone, with 13 cases noted in 2025, and six newly registered cases by mid-2026.
“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 remarked.
Maile also highlighted the concerning practice of schools hiring out their facilities without declaring the income generated, allowing for undeclared donations that contribute to hidden revenue streams and undermine accountability.
The report identified key areas of corruption, including venue bookings and school transport, with case incidents spanning across various districts. The Johannesburg East District, which services communities such as Alexandra, Ivory Park, Tembisa, and Rabie Ridge, alone accounts for 24% of the recorded cases of corruption.
According to the MEC, the report has also identified venue bookings, scholar transport, and undeclared donations as key corruption risks in the province’s schools.
The cases spread across various parts of the province with the Johannesburg East District accounting for 24 percent of all recorded cases, followed by Ekurhuleni South District at 15 %, Johannesburg Central District at 10 percent and Tshwane South District at 7 %. Combined, the four districts account for more than 56 % of all recorded cases.
“This indicates that the problem is not random but spread across multiple districts across the province. Empirical data from the Johannesburg East District, which services communities such as Alexandra, Ivory Park, Tembisa, and Rabie Ridge, reflects the scale of the problem. At one primary school, more than R1 million was allegedly misappropriated. At another primary school, approximately R230,000 was spent through irregular procurement processes,” Maile said.
He further pointed out that the report found gross misappropriation of funds where inflated payments exceeded market values by up to 500%.
“At a high school, more than R2.2 million was overspent across two financial years. These figures represent classrooms not repaired, books not bought, meals not served, and learners not supported,” he added.
Moreover, Maile urged anyone with information regarding corruption to come forward, reminding the public of their legal obligation under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECAA) of 2004.
According to Section 34 of the Act, individuals in positions of authority within government departments are mandated to report any suspected corrupt activities involving R100,000 or more to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks.
