Jobs-for-cash probe reveals irregularities in six provinces

 21 May, 2016 

Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. File photo
Image by: Esa Alexander

A task team appointed by basic education minister Angie Motshekga to probe the jobs-for-cash scandal has found irregularities in the appointment of teachers in six provinces.

The panel was tasked with investigating alleged jobs for cash where department officials‚ union members and school governing body officials in the provinces were reportedly paid to appoint principals and teachers.

In a report released by the panel on Friday the task team states that it investigated incidents in Gauteng‚ Limpopo‚ Mpumalang‚ Eastern Cape‚ North West and KwaZulu-Natal.

• Read the full report here

Of the approximately 120 matters that were brought to the panel’s attention only 81 were investigated.

''Of the 81 cases that were investigated‚ 38 cases provided grounds for either reasonable suspicion requiring further investigation or point directly to wrongdoing amounting to criminal conduct.'' the report read.

Media reports surfaced in 2014 stating that principal jobs were sold from as low as R30‚000 while teacher posts were exchanged for livestock and R6‚000 cash.

The task team which was headed by Professor John Volmink found that a number of witnesses felt threatened and would not cooperate due to fear of victimisation.

"There have been various allegations that the findings of this report would be ‘swept under the carpet’ or that no action would be taken against individuals implicated.

The Task Team is of the view that by showing firm resolve to deal with corruption encountered in the education sector‚ the profession may be saved from further decay." the report further reads.