ACC, REPS probe TSC alleged graft
MBABANE – The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) are investigating allegations of corruption at the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).
This, after claims that some aspiring teachers were made to pay for jobs at the TSC.
The TSC is a government agency for employing, posting and transferring teachers as and when necessary.
Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo told Members of Parliament who are members of the Portfolio Committee on Education and Training that his ministry had been informed about the corruption allegations.
Aspiring
He was responding to a question from Phondo MP Bongani Dube, who even suggested that there be a probe to unearth the corruption.
Said the MP: “There are reported cases of rife corruption at the TSC, where some aspiring teachers are made to pay to be posted. There is need for a serious audit, and a need to move a motion to address such TSC issues.”
Meanwhile, Minister Nxumalo said the ministry welcomed the probe, which would be necessary in assisting to curb this kind of corruption.
“The ministry has on several occasions engaged the ACC and the police department to intervene in addressing such allegations, thus some cases are being investigated,” he said.
Appointment
On a similar note, Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo told the minister that an Education and Training official was misrepresenting herself and interfering with teachers’ transfers. As a result, he said some teachers that were posted to a certain school were withdrawn by this official.
The minister said the TSC operated in terms of Section 187 of the Constitution.
“It should be noted that transfers, appointments and disciplinary actions are the mandate of the TSC, but not the Regional Education Officer (REO).”
“The ministry, through the TSC is working round the clock to ensure that all new schools have teachers and it relies on the Ministry of Public Service for posts and appointment of teachers.
‘‘The ministry is in consultation with the relevant REO to solve this anomaly,” he said.