Gauteng education official Lebogan Maile stated that corruption in schools deprives students of opportunities and promised to take disciplinary and criminal action against those found guilty of financial irregularities.
Lebogan Maile, a Gauteng education official, vowed to intensify the fight against corruption in educational institutions after the public demanded stricter accountability in the management of public funds and educational resources.
This issue became a serious problem during the provincial outreach program 'One Village Needed to Raise a Child,' where parents expressed dissatisfaction with alleged mismanagement of finances in schools.
Maile noted that parents have repeatedly called for increased oversight of school financial spending, procurement processes, and public resources. He warned that corruption directly undermines the quality of education and deprives students of chances.
He emphasized that the unlawful appropriation of funds directly harms children, as every misused rand reduces opportunities for infrastructure improvement, student support, and educational development.
The official confirmed that investigations into alleged financial misconduct involving school principals, members of school governing bodies, and other officials are ongoing. According to the report, these cases include allegations of procurement procedure violations, unauthorized expenditures, misuse of school funds, and failure to comply with established financial management duties.
Maile stated that both disciplinary and criminal liability will be pursued wherever evidence of wrongdoing is found. He added that in cases where evidence confirms misconduct, disciplinary measures, criminal investigation, and recovery processes will be carried out without exception, as corruption is incompatible with quality education and sound governance.
In one of the strongest statements in the report, the official decreed that state funds allocated to schools belong to the students. Maile said: 'State funds belong to the students. Their misuse is not just a financial violation; it is stealing opportunities from an African child.'
The province reported that concerns about corruption raised during the public outreach program will continue to influence governance reforms, oversight mechanisms, and investigations across the entire education sector.