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.”
But critics say the timing and scale of the expense are hard to justify in a province where hundreds of schools struggle with underfunding and outdated equipment.
Education MEC Cathy Dlamini responded that the laptops were high-performance tools essential for managing digital infrastructure in schools. However, she acknowledged that an internal probe had found issues with how the contract was fulfilled — prompting a wider investigation now led by the Office of the Premier.
Premier Mandla Ndlovu has promised a fast-tracked review, with findings expected by next week.
But Was It Worth It?
While the department insists that the laptops are critical to managing the province's digital education systems, the community’s frustration is rooted in contrast: classrooms with broken chairs, empty libraries, and no internet.
Industry comparisons show that top-tier laptops, like the Dell XPS 16, can fetch a similar price—but are these truly the machines procured? And even if so, was there no cost-effective alternative?
As schools across Mpumalanga and beyond wait for basics like chalkboards, textbooks, and working toilets, the optics of luxury laptops in government offices are hard to overlook.