Mpumalanga School Financial Officer Held for Multi-Million Rand Fraud

In an unsettling revelation for the education sector in Mpumalanga, a 52-year-old financial officer, Larrisa Aloma Vern, stands accused of defrauding Delmas Primary School of over R2.6 million. Arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, Vern's case highlights a grievous breach of trust and presents a significant setback for the institution she was entrusted to serve.

Appointed as the financial officer in December 2021, Vern's responsibilities included managing payments for services, distributing salaries, handling cash from sales, overseeing the school budget, and conducting banking transactions. However, in October 2022, indications of financial impropriety surfaced when Vern allegedly awarded herself an unauthorized bonus.

The Hawks, acting upon these suspicions, conducted a meticulous investigation, revealing not just the illegitimate bonus payment but a series of unauthorized transfers from the school's bank account to Vern's personal Capitec accounts. The total amount siphoned off from March to November 2023 was a staggering R2.6 million, used by Vern under false pretenses and manipulative financial maneuvers.

The illegal activities came to a climax when a warrant for Vern's arrest was issued, leading to her subsequent detention. She now awaits her bail application proceeding, scheduled for the coming week at the Delmas Magistrate’s Court.

Vern's case is not an isolated incident in South Africa, serving as a reminder of the need for stringent oversight within financial departments, especially in educational institutions. Such misconduct not only deprives schools of much-needed resources but also erodes trust in those responsible for the stewardship of public funds.

The community awaits the outcome of Vern's bail application, hoping for justice and a call for increased safeguards to prevent future misdeeds. The education sector in South Africa, facing numerous challenges, can ill-afford the financial strain and ethical violations that such cases represent.