The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has launched an investigation following allegations contained in a video that became public. These accusations, made by his wife Metu Malambi against his representative Muzi Malambi, concern his alleged involvement in a scheme exchanging jobs for sexual favors and selling teaching positions.
The investigation was initiated after the video appeared on social media and garnered widespread public attention. The video shows a heated family dispute during which Metu Malambi, the Umhlazi district director, voiced several grievances against her husband, including accusations of infidelity and selling pedagogical vacancies.
Department head Nkosinathi Ngcobo stated on Tuesday that he took all claims presented in the video seriously. He emphasized that these allegations affect the trust of KwaZulu-Natal citizens in public governance and the integrity of the public administration.
Although the allegations have not been confirmed, Ngcobo noted that the Department's duty is to ensure a fair, credible, and impartial verification process. He announced that he has instructed an independent body to conduct a full investigation to ascertain the truthfulness of the statements.
The Department assured the public, education stakeholders, and the residents of KwaZulu-Natal of its commitment to high standards of accountability and ethical conduct. It also urged citizens to refrain from premature conclusions until the investigation is complete, insisting on adherence to due legal process.
Meanwhile, Muzi and Metu Malambi issued joint public apologies regarding the video leak. The couple stated that the recording was made four years ago during a private marital dispute and expressed regret that this 'intensely emotional moment' became public.
In response to the accusations, they clarified that the statements should not be taken as factual. They explained that many remarks were emotional expressions stemming from hurt, disappointment, and anger, rather than reflections of reality. The couple acknowledged that their words carried significant weight and apologized to those they offended or disappointed.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has initiated an independent inquiry into accusations suggesting that its spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, and his wife, Metu Mahlambi, were involved in the alleged sale of job positions. This action followed the circulation of a viral video depicting a heated domestic disagreement.
In the circulated footage, Metu Mahlambi leveled several claims against her husband, including allegations of infidelity and involvement in the supposed scheme of selling teaching posts. The department confirmed that the Head of Department (HOD), Nkosinathi Ngcobo, viewed the claims presented in the video with considerable seriousness, according to reports from IOL, when a statement was released on Tuesday.
The department emphasized that these allegations are treated seriously because they touch upon the trustworthiness of public administration and the confidence placed in the department by the residents of KwaZulu-Natal. While acknowledging that the claims are currently unsubstantiated, the department stated its duty to ensure they undergo a process that is fair, credible, and impartial.
Nkosinathi Ngcobo instructed that a comprehensive investigation be carried out by an external, independent entity to determine the truthfulness of the assertions. The department assured the public that this investigation would proceed without bias, ensuring all pertinent evidence is reviewed. Furthermore, the department requested that the public refrain from forming judgments until the investigation concludes, stressing the importance of respecting due process and guaranteeing fairness to all involved parties as mandated by law and principles of natural justice.
Ngcobo also provided reassurance to the people of KwaZulu-Natal, educational stakeholders, and the general public regarding the department's unwavering dedication to high standards of ethical behavior, accountability, and sound governance. He affirmed that the department would fully collaborate with the independent probe and take decisive action based on its outcomes. The department encouraged anyone possessing credible information related to these allegations to provide it to the investigating body or relevant law enforcement agencies for thorough examination.
Concurrently, Muzi and Metu Mahlambi released a joint statement apologizing for the leak of the video. The couple explained that the recording dates back four years and originated during a private marital conflict, expressing remorse that what they termed an 'intensely emotional moment' became public knowledge.
Regarding the specific allegations made in the video, they asserted that the remarks were not factual. Their statement clarified that many of the comments made during the intense argument were merely emotional outbursts stemming from feelings of hurt, frustration, and anger, rather than accurate descriptions of reality. The Mahlambis admitted that their words held significant impact and apologized to the public who felt disappointed or affected by the video's content, noting that the angry statements created perceptions that did not truly reflect their situation.
The couple concluded by stating that they have since resolved their personal difficulties through 'honesty, forgiveness and commitment' and remain together, feeling stronger and more unified. They appealed to the public not to base their judgment on a single, isolated incident from four years prior, requesting privacy as they continue their life as a family.
A citizen and advocate for victims of gender-based violence (GBV) has sent an open letter to the current Director-General of the Department of Social Development (DSD) demanding an independent review of the activities of the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC).
The letter's author expressed deep concern that South Africa's response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) lacks sufficient transparency, accountability, and survivor-centricity. According to the Department's own reports, only a small fraction—typically between 2% and 5%—of all incoming calls are actually related to GBV, while many other inquiries pertain to various social services.
Despite this, the stated action plans have failed to adequately reflect the impact of this situation on the effectiveness of the GBVCC or the overall provision of GBVF services. Although the Department has not published consolidated annual call data for the GBVCC for 2025, parliamentary information indicates that the centre receives approximately 800 calls daily, demonstrating high demand for this service.
Despite billions of rands invested in legislation, national strategies, specialized programs, and funding mechanisms to combat GBVF, South Africa continues to face extremely high levels of violence against women and children. The author argues that the issue is no longer the absence of policy, but rather the insufficient measurability, accountability, and visible results of its implementation.
Independent assessments commissioned by the government have already revealed serious shortcomings in the GBVCC's operations. Classifying GBVF as a national catastrophe in South Africa was supposed to activate emergency systemic resources and elevate the issue to the highest state priority; however, the catastrophe status has not changed the state's approach to GBVF.
The GBVCC operates under the auspices of the Department of Social Development, where social workers are responsible for receiving and directing calls. However, the DSD has not provided detailed reports on the centre's outcomes and costs. Reliable GBV statistics are critical for transforming a crisis into measurable evidence that allows for resource allocation and holding institutions accountable.
An evaluation conducted by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) showed that in the 2018/19 financial year, the GBVCC received 102,286 incoming contacts, of which only 6,905 were converted into cases, and 2,257 (2.2% of total contacts) were confirmed as related to GBV. Similarly, in 2017, the centre received 182,354 incoming contacts, but only 1,047 (0.6%) led to confirmed GBV cases. This evaluation also recommended reviewing the economic efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and digital model of the GBVCC.
The Department confirmed that the GBVCC handles numerous non-GBV related inquiries, including SASSA grant issues, adoption, family disputes, referrals to Home Affairs, substance abuse, and other social requests.
While SAPS crime statistics are important, they only reflect officially registered cases. Many organizations working directly with survivors warn that official data underestimates the true scale of GBV due to widespread underreporting and weaknesses in the justice system. SAPS itself acknowledges limitations in its administrative data: the Annual Report for 2024/25 noted a decline in public trust from 44.14% to 38.36%, negatively affecting crime reporting.
Furthermore, under the SAPS Strategic Plan (2020–2025), only 78.34% of GBVF-related complaints and 68.78% of domestic violence-related complaints were resolved within the stipulated 14-day period. This means that approximately one in five GBVF complaints and nearly one in three domestic violence complaints were not resolved according to the department's own standards.
In light of these findings, the author formally requests measures be taken to address this evident deficit in services for GBV victims. To overcome failures in combating gender-based violence, the government must urgently transition to an aggressive prevention and enforcement model that includes:
The author emphasizes that ending the cycle of violence requires a complete structural overhaul, not just reactive measures. The safety of thousands of women and children depends on every rand allocated to combating GBVF reaching the frontline services for which it is intended. Therefore, he strongly urges the CEO's office to initiate a formal independent investigation into these matters and make the results and corrective actions public to ensure transparency and restore public trust.
