An Eastern Cape businessman linked to a company involved in a R43-million two-year contract to deliver stationery to Eastern Cape schools apparently sold packs of stationery to a shop.
Mandla Mambatsula, who was hired by a subcontractor contracted by African Paper Products (Pty) Ltd to distribute stationery, admitted to Saturday Dispatch that he had sold the packs for R30000 to a local shop in Tsolo.
“I was owed by the guy who contracted me. He works with African Paper. I had to pay myself. I sold the packs to a shop in Tsolo.”
Mambatsula said the material, which cost the state about R60000, was meant for Goqwana Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Libode.
He said he did not recall how much he was owed, but said a case of fraud was opened against him.
Goqwana JSS and four other junior secondary schools – Indwe, Nyosana, Nyazi and Endulini – were cited in a letter written by acting education department district director Thandeka Vikilahle to provincial headquarters alerting the leadership to the alleged fraud.
In the letter dated January 13, Vikilahle attached proof of delivery notes allegedly signed by teachers confirming receipt of stationery.
The forms were stamped and have African Paper letterheads.
Vikilahle said: “This office has learnt that there are schools whose names appear in the list of schools that have received stationery before the end of 2015.
“They have delivery notes where the signatories and stamps are not known by the schools who are said to have the stationery.”
African Paper director Vishal Seepran said the company reported the matter to the police, and had laid a complaint of fraud against Mambatsula.
Seepran said it was the company that took the initiative to inform the education department about the possible fraud, following reports from schools.
He said the company did not control what went on between subcontractors, but that the company was working closely with the department over the missing stationery.
Seepran said they had appointed subcontractors to deliver to 1000 schools in Libode.
Eastern Cape education department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani confirmed the matter, but contradicted Seepran by saying the department had informed African Paper of the incident and taken steps to rectify it.
“The company concerned was informed about the alleged fraud. The company responded by immediately correcting the anomaly.
“Books were sent to all the five affected schools.
“The said company was caused to write an incident report. Payment due to the company was put on hold. Verification was done on proof of delivery by the department to ensure that the schools do not suffer further.”
He said a case of fraud was lodged with the police.
Police had not confirmed if a case was opened at the time of writing.
School stationery fraud claim hits Eastern Cape
Mandla Mambatsula, who was hired by a subcontractor contracted by African Paper Products (Pty) Ltd to distribute stationery, admitted to Saturday Dispatch that he had sold the packs for R30000 to a local shop in Tsolo.
“I was owed by the guy who contracted me. He works with African Paper. I had to pay myself. I sold the packs to a shop in Tsolo.”
Mambatsula said the material, which cost the state about R60000, was meant for Goqwana Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Libode.
He said he did not recall how much he was owed, but said a case of fraud was opened against him.
Goqwana JSS and four other junior secondary schools – Indwe, Nyosana, Nyazi and Endulini – were cited in a letter written by acting education department district director Thandeka Vikilahle to provincial headquarters alerting the leadership to the alleged fraud.
In the letter dated January 13, Vikilahle attached proof of delivery notes allegedly signed by teachers confirming receipt of stationery.
The forms were stamped and have African Paper letterheads.
Vikilahle said: “This office has learnt that there are schools whose names appear in the list of schools that have received stationery before the end of 2015.
“They have delivery notes where the signatories and stamps are not known by the schools who are said to have the stationery.”
African Paper director Vishal Seepran said the company reported the matter to the police, and had laid a complaint of fraud against Mambatsula.
Seepran said it was the company that took the initiative to inform the education department about the possible fraud, following reports from schools.
He said the company did not control what went on between subcontractors, but that the company was working closely with the department over the missing stationery.
Seepran said they had appointed subcontractors to deliver to 1000 schools in Libode.
Eastern Cape education department spokesman Loyiso Pulumani confirmed the matter, but contradicted Seepran by saying the department had informed African Paper of the incident and taken steps to rectify it.
“The company concerned was informed about the alleged fraud. The company responded by immediately correcting the anomaly.
“Books were sent to all the five affected schools.
“The said company was caused to write an incident report. Payment due to the company was put on hold. Verification was done on proof of delivery by the department to ensure that the schools do not suffer further.”
He said a case of fraud was lodged with the police.
Police had not confirmed if a case was opened at the time of writing.
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