- Large-Scale Employee Verification Initiative: The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education is implementing a comprehensive employee verification process to ensure payroll accuracy and eliminate payments to former or invalid staff members.
- Addressing Payroll Discrepancies: The verification aims to correct issues caused by delays in terminating employment, which have previously led to continued salary payments post-departure.
- National Rollout of the Program: After successful piloting in KwaZulu-Natal, the employee verification process has been adopted nationwide by the Department of Basic Education, led by the Education Labour Relations Council.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has announced a large-scale employee verification process to ensure that only legitimate staff members are paid through the Department’s payroll system.
The initiative follows cases where delays in terminating employees due to retirement, resignation, or death resulted in continued salary payments after individuals had left the Department. To address these discrepancies, the Department has partnered with the Provincial Treasury to provide the necessary IT infrastructure to support the exercise.
Originally piloted in KwaZulu-Natal, the initiative has since been adopted nationally by the Department of Basic Education. It will now be rolled out countrywide under the leadership of the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), with KwaZulu-Natal serving as the starting point.
MEC for Education in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Sipho Hlomuka, said the programme would bring greater transparency and accountability. “We are confident that the verification process will enhance good governance and ensure that resources are used correctly. We urge all employees to cooperate fully with this initiative,” he said.
The Department added that the results of the verification will not only address current irregularities but also shape future policies to prevent similar issues. Details of the verification process are expected to be communicated soon.
