By Jane Sithole: MPL – DA Mpumalanga spokesperson on Education
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the dismissal of the provincial Head of Department of Education (HOD), Mahlasedi Mhlabane, after allegations of misconduct and tender irregularities involving both the shortage of textbooks and the Mpumalanga Schools Nutrition Scheme.
Mhlabane has been under suspension since March this year after it emerged that she altered figures in the department’s annual report to cover her misconduct in connection with the shortage of schools textbooks.
She was also facing allegations of corruption involving the multi-million rand Provincial Schools Nutrition Scheme.
While responding to the DA’s question during a provincial legislature sitting on Tuesday this week, Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane confirmed that the HOD’s contract will not be renewed as a result of the misconduct and the corruption levelled against her.
She said her office handled the investigation against Mhlabane and that the investigation was completed. Hence they decided not to renew the HOD’s contract.
Mhlabane’s brush with the law started in March 2017 when 9 Companies took her to court accusing her of irregularly awarding multi-million rand tenders to 17 Companies for the Provincial School Nutrition Scheme.
Mhlabane lost the case for these tenders that were awarded in 2013. As a result, the Provincial Department of Education is currently facing a law-suit of over R100 million from the affected companies.
This did not sit well with the powers that be and Mhlabane was eventually investigated and suspended.
In October 2017, the DA lodged a complaint with the SA Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) against Mhlabane after finding out that there were severe shortages of textbooks in Mpumalanga schools.
After a lengthy investigation, the Auditor General found that Mhlabane deceived the department by reporting (in an official report) that 63% of learners in the Province received study materials, onlly to find out that only 36% had actually received the material.
The above actions by Mhlabane have portrayed both the provincial government and the department of education in a negative light and exposed them to scrutiny. Hence Premier Mtsweni-Tsipane had no choice but to fire Mhlabane.
The DA will write to the Premier requesting all documents and information regarding the full investigation against Mhlabane.
Money meant for the people must be spent on the people. Corruption is robbing residents of Mpumalanga and is the main contributor to the deteriorating state of many of our institutions.