Mbombela – Revelations that the Mpumalanga Department of Education bought 22 laptops through a tender for more than R2 million – about R91 000 each – have raised eyebrows and prompted criticism from political parties.
The complaint by political parties, including Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has prompted Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu to institute a probe into the “irregular procurement”.
According to reports, the laptops were meant for some of the “key” personnel in the provincial education department.
In a statement, EFF provincial leader and Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature Collen Sedibe welcomed the probe by the premier of the province and called on him to lay criminal complaint with the police against errant education department officials.
“The EFF in Mpumalanga calls on the premier Mr Mandla Ndlovu to immediately lay a formal complaint with the public protector and Special Investigating Unit, and to open a criminal and corruption case with the Hawks against the MEC for Education Mrs. Cathy Dlamini following the procurement of 22 laptops worth R2 million”
The statement further reads: “We note a media statement released by the premier regarding the irregular procurement.
“While we welcome the premier’s intervention by launching an internal investigation through an integrity unit housed in his office, we are not satisfied with an internal investigation alone.”
However, speaking to journalists, Mpumalanga Education MEC Cathy Dlamini said she welcomes the ongoing investigation by the premier.
MEC Dlamini said it was also established that the laptops supplied to her department were not of the specification requested.
ANC provincial spokesperson Sasekani Manzini said the party “welcomes and supports” the decision by the premier to institute an investigation into the procurement of laptops for the Mpumalanga Department of Education.
“This transaction whose details were exposed in an answer to a question in the provincial legislature has caused a serious public outcry and the people of the country reasonably suspect that the principles of the public procurement articulated in Section 217 of the Constitution of the Country, especially that of cost-effectiveness could have been violated, or not been upheld.”
Mpumalanga provincial government spokesperson George Mthethwa said the premier’s internal probe was at “an advanced stage”.
Mthethwa added: “Mpumalanga Premier Mr Mandla Ndlovu says the investigation on the matter pertaining to the acquisition of laptops by the Mpumalanga Department of Education is at an advanced stage.
“This after his announcement during the oral and reply session at the provincial legislature that an investigation will be instituted into this matter,” Mthethwa said.
“The investigation seeks to gather facts, supporting documents, and any information or documentation at their disposal, in light of applicable legislation.”
