GOOD secretary-general files fraud complaint against Western Cape MECs
GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron has filed a criminal complaint against Western Cape MECs for Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger and Education, David Maynier, alleging they knowingly presented a false provincial budget before the 2024 elections.
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GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron has filed a criminal complaint against Western Cape MECs for Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger and Education, David Maynier, alleging they knowingly presented a false provincial budget before the 2024 elections.
Herron claims the March 2024 budget underfunded educator posts by R3.8 billion, a shortfall both MECs were aware of but concealed for political reasons.
Herron visited the Cape Town Central Police Station on Monday to open the case in which he stated he handed over a dossier of evidence to police along with an affidavit.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed that a case of fraud was registered for investigation.
The complaint alleges common-law fraud, forgery, financial misconduct under the Public Finance Management Act, and misleading the legislature.
In response to the allegations, Kerry Mauchline, spokesperson for Maynier said: “We are aware of the complaint. We are currently studying the affidavit and will provide a substantive response in due course.”
Robyn Thompson, spokesperson, Western Cape MEC of Health, Mireille Wenger said Maynier’s office would respond jointly when approached for comment.
Herron said: "The alleged misrepresentation occurred just two months before the May 2024 general election."
Herron cited evidence such as that by November 2023, both MECs allegedly knew about the 2023 public-service wage agreement's impact and national budget cuts. Education approved 37,135 educator posts for 2024/25, but funds were insufficient.
He further claimed that on August 28, 2024, Maynier admitted a R3.8 billion shortfall, cutting 2,400 educator posts. Treasury and Education officials later confirmed the shortfall was known since March.
In a detailed timeline: he claimed that:
- Wenger tabled the 2023/24 Provincial MTBPS and adjustment budget, highlighting the financial impact of the March 2023 public service wage agreement on the Western Cape Department of Education's salary bill and national budget cuts for 2024 MTEF.
- 7 March 2024: Wenger tables the 2024 Budget for the 2024/25 MTEF, increasing teacher posts by nearly 1000 to 37,530 until 2026/2027.
- 27 March 2024: MEC Maynier delivers a speech in Legislature on the Education Budget vote, touting it as the largest ever. He acknowledges a R716.4m blow to the education budget in 2023, leading to cost-containment (fewer schools, fewer relief teachers), but presents a balanced budget without mentioning teacher post cuts.
- 29 May 2024: General Election.
- 28 August 2024: Maynier announces the culling of 2400 teacher posts in 2025 due to budget cuts.
- 29 November 2024: At a Western Cape Standing Committee on Education meeting, Head of Department Brent Walters admits budget shortfalls were evident in the previous financial year. CFO Leon Elly explains that efforts to save through relief teachers and substitutes were unsuccessful.
The case comes just as the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCDHW) tabled its 2024/25 Annual Report, showcasing that for the seventh consecutive year, the department achieved a clean audit, spending 99.6% of its R30.69 billion budget.