Briefing by ELRC on Verification of Personnel in the Education Sector; with Deputy Minister

Video ELRC presentation (awaited document) The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education (DBE) met to receive a briefing on the verification of personnel in the education sector. The engagement focused on the findings of a national verification exercise aimed at improving accountability, strengthening payroll and data integrity systems, addressing workforce irregularities, and assessing learner and educator data across the basic education sector. A presentation was delivered on the Integrated School Data Collection Platform (ISDCP) verification exercise conducted across public schools. The exercise verified more than 21 000 schools, approximately 11.7 million learners, and over 407 000 educators and education staff. Key findings included over 610 000 undocumented learners, including both South African and foreign national learners; more than 22 000 records that did not match Personnel and Salary System (PERSAL) data; over 6 000 educators occupying funded posts but not delivering instruction; duplicate educator records across provinces; and cases where closed schools continued receiving funding allocations. The presentation also identified serious infrastructure backlogs, including inadequate access to water, electricity, laboratories, and school facilities. The presentation emphasised that the exercise was intended to identify anomalies and administrative weaknesses requiring further investigation rather than making findings of fraud or “ghost workers.” Recommendations included strengthening payroll reconciliation, improving data integrity systems, addressing infrastructure challenges, and implementing urgent interventions for undocumented learners. Members raised concerns regarding the non-participation of the Western Cape in the verification process, stating that this weakened the credibility and completeness of the national dataset. Concerns were also raised about payroll irregularities, duplicate payments, educators not delivering instruction while remaining on payroll, outdated PERSAL records, and schools receiving funding despite closure. Members further highlighted the urgent need to address the high number of undocumented learners, particularly undocumented South African children who face barriers in accessing social grants, examinations, and certification. Questions were also raised regarding provincial accountability, verification methodology, payroll inefficiencies, possible fraud, infrastructure disparities, and the need for regular verification exercises. The Department indicated that most flagged cases related to administrative inefficiencies rather than confirmed fraud, including delays in processing resignations, retirements, and transfers. Four workstreams were established to address issues relating to human resources and payroll systems, undocumented learners, foreign national compliance, and school infrastructure. Provinces were instructed to investigate flagged cases and report on corrective measures. The Committee proposed follow-up engagements with provincial education departments on a province-by-province basis to interrogate anomalies identified in the report. Outstanding Member questions would be submitted in writing to the Department, with responses required within seven working days. The Committee also resolved to engage the Department of Home Affairs regarding undocumented learners and to coordinate with the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the matter. Concerns regarding the Western Cape’s non-participation would be pursued further, including consideration of legal and procedural mechanisms to ensure full participation in future exercises. The Committee welcomed the verification exercise as an important evidence-based intervention that provides reliable data on educator deployment, learner distribution, payroll integrity, and infrastructure conditions. It emphasised that the findings should inform corrective action, improved planning, and stronger accountability across the education sector.