A headcount to identify possible ghost employees and verify qualifications in the KwaZulu-Natal education department has been completed, the department said.

“Headcounts of over 100,000 employees, which started in July, were completed on August 6 and we are busy verifying the qualifications they gave us,” said education spokeswoman Mbali Thusi.

She would not comment on claims that some education department employees were not present when the headcount was done.

Employees were given their payslips on the day of the count and had to sign the payroll.

Thusi said employees had to give headcounters certified copies of their qualifications.

“What is happening now is that the department is now going to verify the authenticity of their qualifications. We will call a briefing soon after the process has been completed,” she said.

Thusi said the headcount would help the department to collect critical information about employees.