Mpumalanga education head of department (HOD) Lucy Moyane has been placed on precautionary suspension following her return from a month-long leave, as fallout continues from the R2-million laptop procurement scandal that has rocked the province.
Premier Mandla Ndlovu signed off on the suspension on Tuesday, just over a month after Moyane took annual leave in April amid mounting public pressure and internal investigations.
The suspension comes after Ndlovu released damning findings of a forensic probe that revealed gross procurement irregularities and alleged dishonesty involving senior departmental officials.
Precautionary suspension
“I can confirm with you that indeed the HOD has been put on precautionary suspension. The reasons are outlined in the report that Premier Mandla Ndovu outlined in the media briefing session recently,” provincial government spokesperson George Mthethwa said.
The provincial government has since moved to red-list BoTau Technologies — the company at the centre of the scandal. It was red-listed for its role in supplying overpriced and under-spec laptops to the education department.
Ndlovu’s report confirmed that the department violated multiple legal and financial frameworks in the procurement. The procurement was that of 22 laptops and one printer, and the laptops cost R91,482.50 each.
An investigation by the Integrity, Forensic Investigations and Security Management unit in the Premier’s Office concluded that the process was “flawed in material respects” and marred by misrepresentation.
“The procurement does not comply with both Section 217 of the Constitution, read with the provisions of Section 38 and 45 of the PFMA. And the process cannot be said to have been fair, equitable, transparent, competitive and cost-effective,” said Ndlovu.
The laptops delivered were lower-spec Dell XPS 13 and XPS 14 models. And the tender called for high-end Dell XPS 15 devices. Despite this downgrade, BoTau charged nearly double the estimated resale price.
False compliance claims
The company also submitted false claims of compliance and misleading cost breakdowns. This prompted the premier to begin the process of red-listing it from all future tenders.
Further findings show the department used outdated specifications from two years ago. It also ignored recommendations from its own Bid Adjudication Committee, and skipped key pricing negotiations.
Authorisation for changes in specifications was either lacking or poorly documented.
More troubling, is the officials involved in the deal. They are accused of gross dishonesty and deliberately misleading both Ndlovu and Education MEC Cathy Dlamini. The MEC has since distanced herself from the deal.
“There was a deliberate effort by implicated officials to conduct investigations into a matter in which they were directly involved. This while concealing or misrepresenting their role in the procurement process,” Ndlovu said.
Probe continues
He announced that disciplinary proceedings will be instituted against all implicated officials. including Moyane. Lifestyle audits will be conducted to assess whether any of them unduly benefited from the scandal.
“We will commence with the process of [red-listing] the service provider on the National and Provincial Treasury Register for Tender Defaulters,” said Ndlovu. “We will also refer the matter to SAPS to consider possible criminal charges. These [charges] include collusion, corruption and financial misconduct.”
The probe was launched following a whistle-blower tip-off in February. MEC Dlamini conducted an initial internal review before Ndlovu instructed the forensic unit to investigate whether procurement and governance laws were violated.
Moyane, who signed the original appointment letter to BoTau in September 2024, was on leave during April. The provincial government described it as ordinary annual leave.
Moyane did not respond to a Sunday World media enquiry on her suspension. BoTau Technologies director Lassy Mahole said he would study the report and comment in due course.
The Premier’s Office expects a progress report on the implementation of recommendations by June 30.
