By OBAKENG MAJE
1 October 2026 – The North West Department of Education has raised concern after learner stationery intended for pupils in various grades was discovered being sold at a shop in Unit 9, Mahikeng. Members of the Community Police Forum (CPF), who were monitoring the area on Wednesday, discovered the stationery displayed on shelves and offered for sale to members of the public.
The North West MEC for Education, Dr Desbo Mohono said the police and officials from the North West Department of Education were called to the scene, where the department confirmed that the stationery belonged to government and had been procured for distribution to learners. Mohono condemned the sale of the learner support materials and called for those responsible to face the law.
“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.
“The sale of the stationery meant that government was being forced to spend additional funds to replace materials that had already been procured,” she said.
Mohono further said the people who are found to be selling learner stationery should face the full might of the law. She added that 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. The police arrested the shop owner at the scene.
“The following learner materials were confiscated at Jackpot Supermarket in Unit 9. Thirty five packs of learner materials for Grades 10, 11 and 12, 39 packs for Grades 4, 5, 6 and 7,” said Mohono.
She said 39 packs for Grades 1, 2 and 3 and 46 counter books. The department welcomed the intervention by law enforcement and the CPF, reiterating that learner support materials procured by government are intended solely for the benefit of learners. Mohono said the department would continue working with law enforcement agencies and community structures to safeguard government resources and ensure that learner support materials reach their intended beneficiaries.
