In a dramatic fallout from one of the province’s most egregious procurement scandals, the Mpumalanga Department of Education has confirmed the dismissal of its chief financial officer, Thokozile Ntuli, following the controversial purchase of 22 laptops invoiced at a staggering R91,482.50 each. The termination, which took effect earlier this week, marks a decisive end to Ntuli’s tenure amid mounting public outrage over the exorbitant expenditure of over R2 million for a batch of computers that should have cost a fraction of that amount.
The scandal first came to light during a routine audit review, which flagged the laptops as being procured at prices wildly out of line with market norms. Subsequent investigations by the provincial department’s internal forensic unit revealed that the procurement process was riddled with irregularities, including the failure to obtain multiple quotations, the absence of proper authorization for the expenditure, and the potential involvement of collusion between departmental officials and the supplier. Despite efforts by Ntuli to defend the procurement as “compliant with existing policies,” she was found to have grossly contravened financial regulations and failed in her fiduciary duty to protect public funds.
In a brief statement, Mpumalanga Education MEC Bonakele Majuba welcomed the dismissal, emphasizing that the department will not tolerate any form of financial misconduct. “This action sends a clear message that those entrusted with managing public money will be held accountable, regardless of their seniority,” Majuba said. The department has also referred the matter to the Special Investigating Unit and the Hawks for potential criminal prosecution.
Opposition parties have seized on the case as evidence of widespread rot within provincial procurement systems, calling for a full review of all major contracts awarded by the department over the past three years. Meanwhile, civil society groups have applauded the dismissal but demanded that those who authorized and processed the inflated payments—including the supplier—face the full weight of the law. For now, the R91,000 laptop saga stands as a cautionary tale of how far public funds can be squandered when oversight collapses and impunity takes root.
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