Three Former Gauteng Education Officials Jailed For Ghost Employee Payroll Fraud

Three former officials from the Gauteng West Department of Education have been sentenced for their involvement in a fraudulent payroll scheme that saw public funds siphoned from the department.

According to Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela, the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Thaniso Ralethe (37), Kenneth Maredi Mothiang (43), and Banyana Caroline Mokela (50) after their conviction earlier this year.

Mavimbela explained that the trio, while employed by the department between 2014 and 2015, “fraudulently created ghost employees on the department’s payroll system and assigned those ghost employees to the Bekkersdal Primary School.”

Fraud Uncovered During Internal Review

The fraudulent activity came to light after Bekkersdal Primary School submitted a request to fill vacant posts — a process that prompted an internal review of the school’s staffing records.

“This unlawful criminal act was uncovered when the school in question submitted a request to the department to fill vacant posts at the school prompting an internal review,” said Mavimbela.

The internal audit exposed the existence of fictitious employees on the payroll, which led the department to report the matter to the police.

Sentences Handed Down After Convictions

Following the investigation, all three officials resigned from the department in December 2015 after their arrests. They were found guilty on 23 May 2025, and sentencing was delivered on 2 October 2025.

Mavimbela confirmed the outcomes of the case as follows:

Thaniso Ralethe received a three-year prison term, wholly suspended for five years, provided he is not convicted of fraud, theft, or attempted theft during that time.

Kenneth Maredi Mothiang was sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment, with four years suspended, effectively serving six years.

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Banyana Caroline Mokela was sentenced to serve an effective eight years behind bars.

The Hawks commended the successful prosecution, reaffirming their commitment to rooting out corruption within government departments.

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