Education Department issues POs to two companies for doing the same job in the forged letter scandal

Staff reporter

Bloemfontein – The Department of Education has issued two purchase orders to two different companies for doing the same job linked to the forged letter.

This is according to documents in our possession issued on the 3 September 2025, on the day the colloquium started as follows:

1. Ya Batho FS Productions

• Order Number: ED-179107
• ⁠Amount – R280 000

1. ⁠Toyana Holdings

• Order Number: ED-179105
• ⁠Amount – R190 000

The above mentioned companies as seen in the attached excepts are both doing the same thing.

STEPUPSANEWS has learnt from reliable sources that Jackie Ledibane, Acting Chief Financial Officer (ACFO) rejected the letter when it was brought to him without any signatures and only actioned it after Advocate Humphrey Malakoane signed it.

The letter in question clearly stipulates the Education department is expected to “incur costs” and it’s not a coincidence that the forged letter and POs have similar content.

Only after the forged letter was signed POs were issued.

Jackie Ledibane, acting CFO at Department of Education didnt respond to our questions.

Below are questions we sent:

We are working on a story in relation to the letter in which you allegedly initially rejected actioned after it was signed by HOD.

1. Why did you reject the letter in the first place?
2. ⁠After it was signed, what other supporting documents did you get to action it?
3. ⁠Was there a submission together with Dr Mokalobe’s letter?
4. ⁠Did you perform your due diligence as CFO?
5. ⁠Are you aware Dr Mokalobe is no longer acting?
6. ⁠How was this letter accepted without his signature and acting letter?
7. ⁠Did you verify the contents of the letter with Dr Mokalobe?
8. ⁠How were these two companies procured?

Both Office of The Premier and ANC have never issued any statement a week after the story broke, if they think the story will die, it won’t happen.

We have so far traced the originality of the letter, the device used to type it and how it ended at Education department.

Ra e thoma ra e fetsa, in the words of Chinua Achebe we say, “When a handshake goes beyond the elbow, it ceases to be a friendly gesture and signals a fight”.

This is a developing story.

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