The Western Cape Education Department has issued an urgent warning about a sophisticated scam targeting new, unemployed and substitute teachers through fraudulent WhatsApp messages promising permanent teaching positions.
Western Cape Education Department spokesperson Bronagh Hammond, said that several schools have recently reported incidents involving deceptive messages sent to young educators. “These fraudulent schemes mislead teachers into believing they have been selected for permanent teaching posts and then solicit payment under false pretences,” Hammond said.
The scam typically involves messages claiming to be from district officials or school principals, informing recipients that a permanent post has become available at a particular school and that they are the preferred candidate. The victims are then instructed to report to a school with specific documentation.
“Critically, these messages conclude with a request for a ‘once-off fee’ of approximately R2 800 allegedly required for the ‘authorisation of an appointment letter’ at district offices, accompanied by banking details,” Hammond explained.
“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,” Hammond said. “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 has urged all affected individuals to report these incidents to the police for investigation while the cases remain under review.
Hammond emphasised several critical points that the public should be aware of to avoid falling victim to similar schemes. She stressed that permanent teaching posts are advertised only through the WCED’s Directorate: Recruitment and Selection, and that the department 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 educators must register and apply via this system,” Hammond said. She added that while 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,” Hammond stated firmly.
The education department has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of its recruitment processes. “The WCED remains firmly committed to upholding the integrity of its recruitment processes and safeguarding the wellbeing of all educators,” Hammond said.
