The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has exposed a “suspicious” R1.8 billion payment by the Gauteng Department of Education to the ANC-linked Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG).
The DA recently discovered, through a response from the MEC for Education, Matome Chiloane, that the Department has paid R1 868 760 369.50 to MGSLG for what is described as “cutting-edge” capacity-building programmes for school management and leadership, in addition to “teacher development” initiatives.
The payments were made between 2019 and 2024, including during Covid-19 when educational institutions were closed.
In a statement headed “DA Gauteng reports fishy R1.8 billion payment to ANC-connected consultancy to the Public Protector”, the DA’s Gauteng spokesperson for education, provincial legislator Michael Waters, says: “It is inconceivable that so much money could have been productively spent over five years. I have, therefore, referred the matter to the Public Protector for in-depth forensic analysis. I have also requested the Public Protector to investigate whether any of this money found its way to third parties that did not have a valid and direct role in adding value to the training programmes.”
“I will also submit follow-up questions to the MEC requiring a clear breakdown of the application of these funds.”
The Chairperson is also the provincial secretary of the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union; and the Deputy Chairperson was the former provincial secretary of the Gauteng ANC from 2018 until 2022. Other members include the regional secretary of the ANC in Tshwane, and a former candidate for the presidency of the ANC Youth League.
“The DA Gauteng will continue to call for a spending review of all government expenditures to ensure that frivolous extraction programmes are ended and that taxpayers get value for their money,” says Waters.
“The revelation of this R1,8 billion spent in five years comes at a time when the GDE is unable to pay the electricity bills of the poorest schools in Gauteng, with serious consequences for the teaching programme. The time for this gross level of abuse of public funds is over.”
The DA has also demanded a forensic investigation into the claim.