Note to editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Bronwynn Englebrecht MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) demands the implementation of a forensic investigation into corruption in school security contracts, which puts Gauteng learners and examination integrity at risk. According to a whistle-blower, senior officials within the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) are involved in systemic corruption in the awarding of school security tenders responsible for protecting matric examination papers.
The whistle-blower claims that certain security companies were allegedly pre-selected to receive tenders in exchange for kickbacks ranging from 10% to 20%. Companies were rotated under different names and directors to disguise ownership links. Senior officials are accused of collecting kickbacks, forcing certain companies through the system, and sidelining staff who tried to stop the wrongdoing.
This is happening under the watch of Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who has not curbed corruption in this department, despite lofty promises. It is unacceptable that money meant to protect learners and schools has been diverted to line the pockets of corrupt individuals. Unqualified security providers were placed in schools and around exam storage points. The integrity of the examination paper movement may have been compromised. Officials who tried to report problems were pushed aside, while others stayed in power.
This is not merely a financial crime; it is a breach of duty to learners, teachers, and parents. When tenders are manipulated, schools become unsafe, learners’ futures are placed at risk, and it jeopardises the credibility of matric exams.
The DA Gauteng will put pressure on the Gauteng Provincial Government to ensure the immediate suspension of implicated officials pending the outcome and full public release of tender evaluation, renewal, and payment records from the 2016 to 2024 financial year.
A DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government would have initiated a forensic investigation into this security tender corruption and ensured that the implicated officials are fired and implicated companies are blacklisted, not allowed to do business with the government.
The DA will not allow corruption to rob our children’s safety, dignity, and opportunity.