The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has condemned misleading social media claims alleging that teachers are required to pay R350 for verification or to deposit money into unspecified accounts.
According to the department, these claims are false and designed to deceive educators, public servants, learners, and the general public.
“The Department wishes to make it unequivocally clear that no payment, fee, or deposit of any kind is ever required from teachers, public servants, or learners as part of the Department’s verification or recruitment processes,” DBE said.
The department explained that verification is part of its standard administrative procedures to maintain the integrity and safety of the education system. This includes the vetting of teachers, public servants, and learners where applicable.
All legitimate recruitment, verification, or appointment processes are handled directly through Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) and the official DBE platforms. Any request for payment in exchange for verification or placement is fraudulent and should be reported immediately.
The DBE warned that the circulation of such fabricated content not only misleads educators and officials but also undermines public trust in the education system. The department is working with relevant authorities to trace the source of the false claims and urges social media users to avoid sharing unverified content.
Members of the public, teachers, and learners are reminded to rely solely on the DBE’s official communication channels for accurate information.
Verified updates are shared via the official website: www.education.gov.za
Official social media pages: [@DBE_SA] on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Provincial Education Department official channels
Compiled by Clement Matroos
