The Mpumalanga Department of Education has strongly refuted allegations of wastage and irregular procurement relating to its e-learning devices programme, following reports published by City Press and News24.

In a statement issued on 26 January 2026, the Department said the claims misrepresent the facts surrounding the Ubuhlebuzile E-Learning Programme, which was introduced in 2022 as a phased and strategic intervention to improve teaching and learning across the province.

According to the Department, 64 000 tablets were procured in 2022 for Grade 12 learners under a three-year SITA-facilitated contract valued at R224 million, which included a three-year warranty. Bongani Rainmaker Limited (BRL) was appointed as the supplier in full compliance with government procurement regulations.

In 2025, these devices were replaced with 60 000 Packard Bell tablets at a cost of R232 million, also inclusive of a three-year warranty. The Department confirmed that the tablets were successfully distributed to Grade 12 learners in quintile 1 to 3 schools and stated that it has received no verified reports of widespread device failure.

The Department further attributed the improvement in Grade 12 results — from 79% in 2023 to 86.55% in 2025 — partly to the effective use of e-learning tools introduced through the programme.

It rejected claims that the Packard Bell tablets constituted wastage, explaining that the devices issued to the 2025 Grade 12 cohort have been retrieved, reformatted and reloaded with updated content. They will be re-issued to the 2026 Grade 12 learners as part of a cost-efficient and sustainable approach.

Looking ahead, the Department confirmed that it has placed an order for 70 000 Windows-based tablet notebooks for Grade 10 learners in 2026, at a cost of R330 million — not R600 million as alleged. These devices will be retained by learners from Grade 10 through to Grade 12, with content updated remotely to reduce future logistics and redistribution costs.

The procurement process, facilitated through BRL, allows the service provider to source Department-approved devices, load educational content and manage distribution. Funding is drawn from a dedicated e-learning budget, supplemented by the Learning and Teaching Support Material (LTSM) allocation.

For the 2025/26 financial year, the Department allocated R717 million to the e-learning programme, covering both Grade 10 and Grade 12 learners.

The Department reiterated that all procurement processes were lawful, strategic and focused on improving learner outcomes, adding that allegations of inflated costs, wastage or non-functional devices are misleading and incorrect.

It reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and the effective use of technology to advance quality education throughout Mpumalanga.