The Mpumalanga Department of Education is under fire for spending over R2 million on 22 laptops, sparking outrage across a province where many schools lack basic resources.

Each laptop reportedly cost R91 482.50, a figure that has raised eyebrows among the public. The devices were purchased in December 2024 for staff in the department’s Education Management Information Systems (EMIS) and ICT units, with officials defending the high price by citing “specialised software.”