The Star reports that two former Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) employees and an accomplice, who defrauded the department of millions through a ghost employee scheme, were scheduled to appear for sentencing at the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and Thursday.

The external accomplice is the brother of one of the convicted former staff members. The scheme, uncovered through an internal risk investigation, involved seven officials from the Gauteng West District Office’s Human Resources Unit and siphoned off approximately R3.8 million. The matter dates back to 2016, when a criminal case was first opened. GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona the investigation implicated five additional employees, all of whom were dismissed following an internal disciplinary process, bringing the total number of staff fired over the scheme to seven.

“These dismissals were challenged at the Public Service Sectoral Bargaining Council, but the department successfully defended its actions in both the Labour Court and the Labour Appeal Court, with the decision upheld in January 2025,” Mabona reported. On 23 May, the Joburg Commercial Crimes Court found the three accused guilty on multiple counts, including fraud, forgery, and theft, linked to a ghost employee scheme.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Masabata Mkwananzi at The Star
• Read too, Two former GDE employees convicted of fraud and theft to be sentenced, at The Citizen

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