Former North West education MEC Johannes Tselapedi and four others appeared in connection with corruption in the Mafikeng Regional Court on Wednesday.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Frank Lesenyego said the matter was postponed to August 17.
Tselapedi's co-accused are a couple and two senior civil servants.
Previously, Tselapedi was granted bail of R250 000.
Acting deputy director general of basic education Matanzima Mweli and suspended provincial head of department Charles Raseala were each released on bail of R500 000.
The five face charges of fraud, corruption, money laundering and contravening the Public Finance Management Act.
They allegedly awarded two tenders - for motivational speaking and for helping matriculants in their studies Ä without following procedures.
The original tenders were for R3.5 million, but the services apparently ran for a further three years after the expiry of the contract, which resulted in R12m being paid for services. - Sapa