Overpriced Laptops: Mpumalanga Department Of Education CFO Thokozile Ntuli Fired 

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Johannesburg – Thokozile Ntuli, the Chief Financial Officer of the Mpumalanga Department of Education, who authorised the purchase of 22 laptops at more than R92 000 each, has been fired.

She was dismissed following a disciplinary process.

Ntuli’s dismissal was related to inflated prices of the laptops bought by the province’s education department in December 2024.

Commenting on the matter on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, AfriForum said it “welcomes” the dismissal of Ntuli, the Mpumalanga Department of Education Chief Financial Officer.

In February 2025, an anonymous whistleblower informed AfriForum about the department’s purchase of 22 laptops at about R91 482 each, which added up to approximately R2 million.

The prices were way above the market evaluations.

AfriForum then submitted a PAIA application to the Mpumalanga Department of Education in this regard.

In May 2025, the Premier of the province issued a report on this misappropriation of funds and undertook that disciplinary action would follow against those responsible.

RELATED: R2 Million For 22 Laptops: Mpumalanga Premier Ndlovu Launches Probe Into Purchase – The Bulrushes

Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, said the misappropriation of funds by education authorities cannot be tolerated.

“This is happening at the expense of the future of our youth and is detrimental to the country’s education system, which is already performing at alarmingly low levels,” Bailey said.

“AfriForum hopes that the dismissal of Ntuli will send a warning to other officials about ethical spending and accountability.”

AfriForum said it was “also gratifying” that the department, in addition to the disciplinary processes against those involved, has already recovered about 80% of the amount paid to the supplier of the computers.

Furthermore, the department has developed and implemented an audit action plan that includes clear and measurable intervention steps to strengthen internal control measures.

AfriForum said the recent tender processes in the department should be scrutinised to ensure that if other purchases had been made at similarly inflated prices, efforts can be made to recover the funds and the service providers can be blacklisted.

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