Thokozile Ntuli, CFO of Mpumalanga Education Department, Fired for Overpricing Laptops

Johannesburg – Thokozile Ntuli, the Chief Financial Officer for the Mpumalanga Department of Education, has been terminated after approving the acquisition of 22 laptops priced at over R92,000 each.

Her dismissal followed a disciplinary action.

Ntuli’s removal was connected to the excessively priced laptops purchased by the education department of the province in December 2024.

On Tuesday, 18 August 2026, AfriForum commented on the issue, expressing that it “welcomes” Ntuli’s ousting as the Chief Financial Officer of the Mpumalanga Department of Education.

In February 2025, an anonymous whistleblower alerted AfriForum about the department’s procurement of 22 laptops at around R91,482 each, totaling nearly R2 million.

These prices were significantly higher than the market assessments.

Subsequently, AfriForum submitted a PAIA request to the Mpumalanga Department of Education regarding this matter.

In May 2025, the Premier of the province presented a report concerning this financial mismanagement and pledged that disciplinary measures would be taken against those accountable.

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

Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, emphasized that such financial misconduct by education officials is unacceptable.

“This is detrimental to the future of our youth and negatively impacts our education system, which is already struggling at critically low performance levels,” Bailey stated.

“AfriForum hopes that Ntuli’s dismissal will serve as a stern reminder to other officials regarding ethical spending and accountability.”

AfriForum also expressed satisfaction that, aside from the disciplinary actions taken against those implicated, the department has already recovered nearly 80% of the funds paid to the laptop supplier.

Additionally, the department has initiated and executed an audit action plan that includes specific and quantifiable steps to enhance internal control measures.

AfriForum called for thorough scrutiny of the recent tender processes within the department to ensure that if other purchases were made at similarly inflated prices, recovery efforts can be pursued, and the respective service providers may be blacklisted.

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