Mpumalanga Office of the Premier warning school principals about a scam at schools

29 October 2010

The Office of the Mpumalanga Premier, Mr David Mabuza would like to warn school principals, leaders of the private sector and individuals in the province to be vigilant about dubious characters who use the name of the Premier to rob people and the schools.

The Office of the Premier has learned with shock about the latest media reports that there is a person by the name of “Sipho” who is wrongfully using the name of Premier Mabuza and the Office of the Premier to request money from schools in Ehlanzeni Region.

According to the media reports the “Sipho” character is lying to the principals that the office of the Premier wants to donate computers but an amount of R3 000 is required for delivery.

Apparently the bogus official contacted the department of Education Regional Office in Ehlanzeni Region under the false pretence that he was sent by the Premier’s office to identify the schools in need of computers.

There is nobody in the Office of the Premier by the name of “Sipho” who has been mandated to identify schools for computer donations in the province. Besides all donations made to the schools will officially be delivered by the department of education.

“This Provincial Government will always be committed to fight fraud, corruption in all walks of life. We are totally against any type or form of corruption. We hope that the police will swiftly arrest the bogus official”, said Premier Mabuza. 

Empakeni Primary School became victim to this scam and its principal was made to pay R3 000 by this bogus official. Sdungelani Primary School was fortunate because it has managed to ask the bank to reverse the deposited money.

The Office of the Premier would like to appeal to anyone who might be a victim to urgently report these activities to the police. The people of the province shall always be vigilant to such dubious characters that are hell-bent to discredit the name of the Premier, Mpumalanga provincial administration and the province at large.

Enquiries:

Mabutho Sithole

Spokesperson of the Premier

Cell: 082 389 3348

E-mail: Mabutho@prem.mpu.gov.za

Issued by: Mpumalanga Office of the Premier