A former teacher from Mpumalanga has been sentenced after admitting to fraudulently using a forged matric certificate to secure a teaching qualification and employment in the education sector for more than 10 years.
According to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, 43-year-old Nomalanga Labane obtained a fake matric certificate in 2003 after repeatedly failing her final school examinations.
She then used the fraudulent document to enrol at Walter Sisulu University, where she completed a teaching degree that enabled her to enter the profession.
Fake Matric Certificate Used To Secure Teaching Degree
Labane went on to teach at schools in Amersfoort, building a career that lasted more than a decade before the deception was uncovered.
The fraud came to light in 2022 after a whistleblower alerted authorities, prompting an investigation by the Hawks.
Hawks spokesperson Magonseni Nkosi said investigators established that the Mpumalanga Department of Education suffered losses exceeding R1.1 million as a result of Labane’s unlawful employment.
Hawks Investigation Reveals R1.1 Million Loss To Education Department
“She appeared in court on several occasions before eventually pleading guilty to all charges on 26 March 2026. On 7 May 2026, Labane was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years on condition that she is not convicted of similar offences during the suspension period.
“As a result of her fraudulent activities, the Mpumalanga Department of Education suffered a financial loss of more than one million rand.”
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The suspended sentence means Labane will not serve jail time unless she is convicted of a similar offence within the next five years.
