The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in the North West have launched a scathing attack on the provincial Department of Education following the shocking discovery of department-branded learner stationery being sold illegally at a local supermarket in Unit 9, Mmabatho, Mahikeng.
In a statement released on Thursday, 01 October 2026, the red berets demanded immediate accountability, questioning how a massive quantity of state property could be stolen and put up for retail sale without any internal tracking systems sounding the alarm.
The illicit operation was exposed not by internal department audits, but by vigilant members of the Community Policing Forum (CPF). Upon discovering the government-issued stock on commercial shelves, the CPF alerted department officials and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to verify and process the scene.
In a swift law enforcement response, SAPS officers arrested the shop owner directly at the scene of the crime, which was identified as the Jackpot Supermarket in Unit 9, Mahikeng.
Authorities managed to recover and confiscate a significant haul of state property from the premises, including thirty-five packs of learner materials designated for Grades 10 through 12, and an additional thirty-nine packs meant for primary school learners in Grades 4 to 7. The police also seized twenty-three packs of foundational materials for Grades 1, 2, and 3, along with forty-six counter books that were meant to be distributed to underprivileged classrooms.
Bizarrely, the Department of Education—the rightful owner of the branded stationery—admitted it was completely oblivious to the fact that its property had been compromised until external law enforcement intervened.
Condemning the criminality of the situation, the EFF expressed deep concern over the department’s financial transparency and disbursement cycles. The party noted that the department previously claimed all learners across the province had been fully supplied with stationery at the beginning of the year. This contradiction has raised serious red flags regarding how much the department has been overpaying in surplus payments to cover up such extensive stock losses while ensuring schools still received their supplies.
According to the EFF, these findings expose a severe lack of property control, blatant irresponsibility, and a deliberate concealment of true expenditure by education authorities. The opposition party argued that such financial recklessness is entirely unacceptable from a provincial department that is actively struggling to provide basic necessities, such as reliable electricity, clean water, proper toilets, and maintained infrastructure, to the schools currently under its care.
Moving forward, the EFF is demanding a formal internal inquiry to investigate the exact source of the stationery, alongside transparency on where, when, and how the state property was diverted to a commercial supermarket.
“The EFF demands answers from the Department regarding where, when and how this stationery ended up at a supermarket, and how much extra costs it has been incurring as a result of such. We demand that a formal inquiry be made within the Department to investigate the source of this stationery and all parties involved, and demand that the necessary action be taken,” said EFF Provincial Elections Spokesperson, Fanon Moema.
Insisting that crime must be addressed at its roots rather than just the surface level, the party asserted that all internal and external stakeholders who allowed this corruption to flourish must be held legally liable without fear or favour.
The North West Department of Education has formally responded to the crisis, expressing deep concern over the discovery of the government-issued supplies.
Department officials confirmed that the stationery, which was intended for various grades across local schools, was found openly displayed on commercial shelves for public sale on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
The department welcomed the decisive intervention of the local CPF and law enforcement, emphasizing that all learner support materials are procured strictly for the educational benefit of students.
The MEC for Education, Dr Desbo Mohono, strongly condemned the illegal retail operation, validating public anger over the incident and demanding that those involved face the full might of the law. Dr Mohono pointed out that government stationery is strictly not for sale since public funds have already been spent to ensure learners receive them free of charge.
Highlighting the severe financial and operational strain this theft places on the province, the MEC lamented that the department is now being forced to pay twice for the exact same products, directly depriving vulnerable students who are left sitting in classrooms without the essential tools they need to learn.
“I wish to strongly condemn the selling of learner stationery. Government stationery is strictly not to be sold because the Department has paid for it for the benefit of learners. Those people who are found to be selling learner stationery should face the full might of the law. The Department is now paying twice for the same product, and that is totally unacceptable. A learner somewhere is sitting without stationery because someone decided to sell it for a price,” said MEC Dr Mohono.
Moving forward, the department has pledged to strengthen its collaboration with community structures and law enforcement agencies to better protect state resources and secure school supply chains.
