Statement by Donald Grant, MEC for Education in the Western Cape

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has suspended an employee who allegedly defrauded the department of about R1-million.

The woman was involved in a special project to supply schools with learning and teaching materials.

We take a tough stance on corruption and acted immediately on learning of the alleged fraud.

Fortunately, the department has rigorous financial monitoring systems in place and detected the bulk of the alleged fraud in a reasonably short space of time.

The WCED has alerted the police and provincial forensic investigators. The WCED cannot divulge further details at this point while investigations are underway.

We obviously find this alleged fraud extremely disappointing, but we are pleased that our monitoring systems work. We are determined to find anyone responsible for stealing public funds and will deal with them harshly.

For enquiries, contact Bronagh Casey:  072 724 1422 or brcasey@pgwc.gov.za.

Visit our website: http://wced.wcape.gov.za