The Democratic Alliance has learned with dismay that fraudulent activities originating from the offices of the Department of Education are continuing, despite promises that the matter would be investigated as a matter of urgency.
This follows after I was alerted about the scam at the end of October, which affected six teachers at Selborne Primary School. Their confidential documents, including identity documents and payslips had been used to open fraudulent accounts at trading stores and to open cell phone contracts.
I was told by one of the victims that she received another account in the last week, this time from MTN. Cleary the culprits have not been apprehended and are brazenly continuing with their criminal behaviour despite wide media reporting on this issue.
The department clearly does not have proper checks and balances in place, and it seems anyone within the department has access to confidential personal information. It is obvious that officials are “borrowing†each other’s access codes to get privileged information.
The Risk Management Unit within the department must take responsibility in protecting the interests of the thousands of teachers in employment of the department. It seems to me they are not serious in exposing the perpetrators. We call on the MEC for Education, Mahlubandile Qwase, to adhere to the promise that was made on his behalf, by his spokesperson, Loyiso Pulumani, that they would do an urgent investigation.
For further information, please contact Edmund van Vuuren, MPL on 072 184 7840
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