With schools set to reopen for the new academic year, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) has issued a warning about a scam targeting new, unemployed and substitute teachers.
The scheme tricks victims into believing they have been selected for permanent posts before soliciting payment.
According to the provincial department, several schools have reported cases in which young teachers received WhatsApp messages from people impersonating district officials or principals.
The messages falsely claim that a permanent position has become available and that the recipient is the preferred candidate.
Teachers are then instructed to report to the school with specific documents and to pay a “once-off fee” of about R2 800 for the so-called “authorisation of an appointment letter” at district offices.
Banking details for the fraudulent payment are included in the message.
“Regrettably, some teachers have fallen victim to this scam, arriving at schools having paid the so-called ‘authorisation fee,’ only to discover that no such post exists.
“This deception has caused significant distress to the affected individuals and has the potential to damage the reputations of schools, principals, and district officials who are being impersonated,” the department said.
The department has urged all affected individuals to report these incidents to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
While the investigations continue, the WCED is cautioning the broader public to remain vigilant and take note of the following:
• Permanent teaching positions are exclusively advertised through the WCED’s Directorate of Recruitment and Selection.
• The WCED, including head office, district offices, and schools, will never request payment for job applications or appointments.
• The online e-recruitment system is the official platform for advertising and applying for posts.
• Unemployed teachers must register and apply via the e-recruitment system.
• Temporary appointments are managed directly by schools; applicants must verify the legitimacy of any advertised post.
• No payment is required for any appointment within the WCED.
• Suspicious activity must be reported immediately to the WCED and SAPS.
The WCED said it remains committed to protecting the integrity of its recruitment processes and safeguarding the well-being of all teachers.
“We sincerely hope that no further individuals fall victim to this malicious scam, which not only undermines the reputation of our staff and institutions but also shatters the aspirations of young professionals seeking meaningful employment opportunities in education,” it said. – SAnews.gov.za
