By Palesa Matlala
· The department has denied claims that teachers must pay R350 for job verification and warned that anyone demanding money is committing fraud.
· A TikTok video spreading the rumour is now under investigation, with officials urging people to report scams and stop sharing false posts.
The Department of Basic Education has called out a viral TikTok video claiming teachers must pay R350 to apply for jobs — saying the claims are a complete lie.
In a strong statement, the department said there are no fees required for verification or recruitment, and anyone asking for money is running a scam.
Spokesperson Terence Khala said the post was “false and misleading” and slammed it as an attempt to trick teachers, public servants and the public.
“These claims are completely untrue, malicious and intended to deceive,” read the department’s statement.
Khala warned that no one should ever be asked to deposit money into an unknown account to secure a job.
He said all proper recruitment and appointment processes are done by the provincial education departments and do not involve any payment.
“Any requests for money in exchange for placement are fraudulent. Report them to the police or the department’s hotline,” he said.
The department said it is working with authorities to trace the source of the false claims and vowed to take action against those responsible.
“We will not tolerate anyone using our name to scam the public. This is criminal behaviour and a direct attack on the integrity of the education system,” said Khala.
Teachers and the public have been urged to rely only on official department channels for job information, and not to share fake posts.
Pictured above: Classroom
Image source: Supplied
