Education departments across SA to embark on employee verification checks, starting in KZN

Employee verification checks will be carried out in provincial education departments across the country in a bid to root out ghost workers and to ensure that those no longer employed are not still being paid.

This is according to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education which said it will be embarking on a rigorous employee verification process to ensure that the correct number of employees is legitimately receiving remuneration through the Department's persal systems.

The department said the initiative, which it had initially launched, has since been adopted as a national programme by the National Department of Basic Education.

“It will be implemented across the country under the leadership of the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), commencing with KwaZulu-Natal. This process has been necessitated by instances where delays in the administrative termination of employees—due to retirement, resignation, or death—have resulted in continued salary payments long after the individuals have exited the department.

“Upon identifying these discrepancies, the department engaged the Provincial Treasury to assist with the necessary IT infrastructure to facilitate this large-scale verification exercise and to ensure the quality and integrity of the process,” said the department in a statement.

The Department added  that it welcomed the national department's support as this would help to standardise processes across the education sector.

“We are confident that the verification process will enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance,” said KZN Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka.

He also called for the full cooperation of all department employees to ensure the success of the initiative.