KZN Education Launches Employee Verification to Curb Salary Irregularities

By embarking on this large-scale verification drive, the Department intends to strengthen payroll integrity, ensure fiscal accountability, and close loopholes that could be exploited for fraud or mismanagement.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education (KZNDoE) has announced the launch of a comprehensive employee verification process aimed at ensuring that only legitimate employees are drawing salaries through the Department’s Persal payroll system. The move comes after the discovery of multiple cases where salaries continued to be paid to individuals who had retired, resigned, or passed away, but whose details had not been administratively terminated in time.

Rooting Out Payroll Irregularities

These irregularities have not only strained departmental budgets but also raised concerns about weaknesses in human resource management systems. Officials explained that in some cases, administrative delays in updating records resulted in undue financial losses.

By embarking on this large-scale verification drive, the Department intends to strengthen payroll integrity, ensure fiscal accountability, and close loopholes that could be exploited for fraud or mismanagement.

Collaboration with Provincial Treasury

Recognising the scale and complexity of the task, the KZNDoE sought assistance from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Treasury, which has provided critical IT infrastructure and support systems to facilitate the verification exercise. This partnership is expected to enhance the reliability of the process, ensuring that the audit captures accurate and up-to-date employee information across thousands of staff members.

Expansion to a National Programme

What began as a provincial initiative has now been elevated to a national level. The National Department of Basic Education (DBE), acknowledging the potential benefits of such a programme, has adopted it for rollout across the country.

Implementation will be coordinated by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), starting with KwaZulu-Natal as the pilot province before extending nationwide. This expansion is seen as a step toward standardising payroll verification processes across all provinces, ensuring consistency in human resource practices within the education sector.

Strengthening Governance and Policy

According to the MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Sipho Hlomuka, the initiative is not just about correcting past mistakes but also about building a sustainable system for the future.

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

The findings of the verification are expected to influence future policy decisions regarding staff management, payroll processing, and preventative measures to safeguard against similar occurrences.

Employee Cooperation Essential

The Department has called for the full cooperation of all employees to ensure the smooth rollout of the verification drive. Detailed guidelines and timelines for staff participation will be communicated in due course.

Employees will likely be required to verify their personal and employment details, possibly through physical verification, digital platforms, or a combination of both. The Department stressed that this exercise is not punitive but aimed at protecting resources, ensuring fairness, and restoring public trust in the education system’s financial management.

Toward a Culture of Accountability

The initiative aligns with broader government efforts to combat ghost employees, prevent irregular expenditure, and promote a culture of transparency and good governance within the public sector. By ensuring that funds meant for active employees are not diverted through irregular salary payments, the Department hopes to redirect resources more effectively toward teaching, learning, and improving education outcomes.

As KwaZulu-Natal leads the way in implementing this verification programme, other provinces are expected to follow suit, making this a landmark reform in South Africa’s education payroll management.