In the media

A former acting head of the provincial education department was among 41 suspects arrested for alleged R114 million tender fraud over five years. Police arrested him at his home following investigations dating back to 2018. Several suspects across multiple provinces are expected to appear in court, including at least 10 Government officials and multiple contractors. The case involves suspected bribery, inflated tenders and irregularly awarded maintenance contracts. The education department reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

The Economic Freedom Fighters Youth Command in South Africa opened a criminal case against individuals accused of running a syndicate that sells university and TVET college placements. A spokesperson claims that students were charged between R3,000 and R4,000 for admission, accommodation and bursaries, facilitated through WhatsApp groups and apparent internal contacts. Various institutions across South Africa are alleged to be involved in the actions. Evidence submitted to police includes messages, payment records and testimonies from victims.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) in South Africa has recovered more than R1.7 billion in unallocated or improperly retained NSFAS funds from universities, TVET colleges, and unqualified beneficiaries. The funds relate to amounts held from 2016 to 2021 that institutions failed to refund after students deregistered or transferred. Weak NSFAS control and reconciliation systems during those years contributed to the accumulation of unreturned funds.

The South African government has identified 8,854 high-risk cases in its effort to eliminate ghost work in the public sector. In its process to verify all its employees, the highlighted cases were identified to show payment irregularities that need to be clarified in an outstanding audit. As part of the efforts to address this issue, the Education Labour Relations Council is undertaking physical verification of teachers and learners in order to identify possible ghost teachers and ensure spending efficiency.

The podcast highlights widespread corruption in South Africa’s education system, where the Education Labor Relations Council (ELRC) has launched an investigation into ghost teachers and the sale of teaching posts. Flawed hiring practices—especially the failure to advertise many entry-level positions—have enabled bribery and manipulation by principals and officials. This erodes trust, prevents qualified graduates from securing jobs, and wastes public resources. The ELRC, together with unions and the Department of Education, is developing measures to strengthen transparency and accountability.

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Finance Minister has started a province-wide check to remove ghost workers from the Education Department. Nonexistent or former employees, including teachers who resigned, were dismissed, or died, are still receiving pay. This problem may be costing the department about 1 billion rand (approx. 57.31 million USD) every year, calling for urgent action.

South Africa’s Academy of Science has released a revised 2025 Code of Best Practice in Scholarly Journal Publishing, addressing AI misuse, peer-review ethics, open access, data transparency, and diversity. The code strengthens editorial independence, accountability, and integrity, aiming to curb predatory publishing, plagiarism, and unethical authorship. Stakeholders describe it as a blueprint for credibility and a safeguard for research trust.

Global research retractions surpassed 10,000 in 2023, with Ethiopia showing an alarming 12% + rate. This challenges research integrity and public trust. Issues include misconduct, weak oversight, and publication pressure. Strengthening ethical standards, implementing transparent review processes, establishing national monitoring bodies, and prioritizing research quality over quantity are crucial for a credible scientific environment.

The Southern African Development Community encourages higher education institutions to strengthen research ethics. An online seminar hosted by the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) gathered African academics to discuss vital research ethical frameworks, emphasizing review processes to protect participants and uphold research integrity.

This article exposes corrupt practices in South Africa’s education system, particularly the misuse of social grants to gain university admission. Students with strong academic records are often denied entry to top universities, while others secure placements by using their grants to bribe university staff. This issue underscores the urgent need for reform and stricter oversight of grant distribution to ensure fairness and merit-based admissions.