Ntombelanga Pretty Labane from Mpumalanga will return to court next month to face fraud charges after she allegedly earned more than R1.2 million working as a teacher without a valid matric certificate.
Investigators allege that Labane never passed matric, yet obtained a Bachelor of Education degree.
She allegedly forged a matric certificate and used it to secure admission at Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape, where she later graduated.
How Labane Secured the Teaching Post
Provincial Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Dineo Sekgotodi said Labane applied for a teaching post at Hlelimfundo Secondary School in Amersfoort on 1 September 2016.
She submitted a CV, allegedly fraudulent matric certificate, her B-ED degree, and South African Council for Educators (SACE) certificates.
The school principal presented her application to the school management team, which endorsed her suitability for the position.
The School Governing Body (SGB) later approved the decision. On 12 September 2016, the principal and SGB members signed her application, which was processed by the Department of Education’s district office in Ermelo.
After officials verified the documents at various levels, the employment section captured her details and appointed her as a teacher.
Whistle-blower exposes fraud to Public Service Commission
Trouble began when a whistle-blower who knew Labane had not passed matric reported the matter to the Public Service Commission.
The commission investigated and questioned the school principal, circuit manager, and district office about the fraudulent certificate.
They claimed they had not detected the fraud, as they lacked tools to verify the authenticity of documents.
The commission later referred the matter to the Hawks’ serious commercial crime investigation unit in Secunda in July 2022.
Hawks confirm forged matric led to teacher fraud case
Further investigation revealed that Labane had failed matric four times between 2003 and 2006.
She allegedly forged a certificate by using the number 040 9517 7028 B, which belonged to another candidate, Nozipho Ritta Ngema.
According to the Hawks, Labane used this fraudulent certificate to apply at Walter Sisulu University, where she successfully obtained her degree.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Monica Nyuswa, confirmed that the case has been postponed to October for trial.
Labane, who is out of custody, has appeared several times before the Amersfoort Magistrate’s Court.
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