Who and what is AfriForum?

AfriForum is an Afrikaans civil rights organisation that protects the rights of minority groups at national as well as provincial level, and anyone who can identify with AfriForum’s principles and objectives may join the organisation. AfriForum’s community plan focuses on mobilising communities to thus take control of their own streets and neighbourhoods again. AfriForum ensures that your constitutional and civil rights are recognised and protected at national level.

Wie en wat is AfriForum?

AfriForum is ’n Afrikaanse burgerregteorganisasie wat die regte van minderheidsgroepe op sowel nasionale as provinsiale vlak beskerm, en enigiemand wat met AfriForum se beginsels en doelstellings kan identifiseer, mag by die organisasie aansluit. AfriForum se gemeenskapsplan fokus daarop om gemeenskappe te mobiliseer om só weer beheer terug te neem oor hul eie strate en woonbuurtes. AfriForum verseker dat jou grondwetlike én burgerregte op nasionale vlak erken en beskerm word.

AfriForum welcomes findings and recommendations regarding Mpumalanga Education’s expensive computer purchases

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (English)

Soundbite: Alana Bailey (Afrikaans)

AfriForum welcomes the announcement made by the Premier of Mpumalanga, Mandla Ndlovu, today regarding the findings of the investigation into the purchase of 22 laptops in December 2024 at excessively high prices, as well as planned action against those responsible for the purchases.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, AfriForum had already made a formal request in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to the Mpumalanga Department of Education on 18 February 2025 to obtain more information about the purchase. The department’s sluggishness in responding to the request forced AfriForum to begin an appeal process, but with the announcement of the report today, this has been put on hold for the time being.

Bailey mentioned that an anonymous source had provided information to AfriForum indicating that the computers had been purchased at a cost far above the market price of similar computers. During today’s media conference, the Premier confirmed that this had indeed been the case and that the supplier had not adhered to the department’s specifications either. In addition, he indicated that officials had attempted to cover up the facts, confirming AfriForum’s suspicions.

AfriForum views the further steps announced by the Premier as positive. These include the recovery of the costs incurred, blacklisting of the supplier on national and provincial procurement lists, disciplinary action against the more than eight implicated officials, lifestyle audits of all involved, as well as possible criminal charges to be laid at the South African Police Service (SAPS) against those responsible. AfriForum also welcomes the fact that the Premier has ordered an investigation into the department’s procurement and governance processes, internal control and accountability to provincial structures in general.

It is disappointing that the department delayed responding to inquiries from a civil society organisation like AfriForum and that progress had only been seen once political parties became involved in the process, but AfriForum hopes that the further steps will expose other problems and risks, resulting in processes being managed more honestly and openly in future. AfriForum will monitor the steps taken against all those implicated. It must be ensured that they will not simply be deployed elsewhere, as had been the case with those implicated in corruption scandals in the past.

Bailey emphasises that the abuse of funds by education authorities leaves a bitter taste in the mouth when one considers that this is done at the expense of the education and future of the youth of South Africa.