MPUMALANGA’s department of education fired two high-ranking officials on Thursday for their involvement in the 1998 matric scandal in which results were fraudulently inflated to 72%. Former examination head, Gogo Ndlovana, and first education specialist, Kate Mokone, were fired upon the recommendation of Professor Papa Maithufi who headed an internal investigation into the scandal. Maithufi said the women were not “fit and proper” officials to be in the employ of the public service. Department spokesman Peter Maminza said their termination was effective immediately. Ndlovana and Mokone were suspended early last year and have received their full salaries for almost 12 months while investigations took place.