Missing school money opens can of worms

ALLEGATIONS of mismanagement and ‘missing’ money amounting to almost R600 000 at Sparks Estate Secondary School, revealed at an urgent parents meeting on Saturday, has been described as having opened a “can of worms regarding the state of affairs at the school,” by one of the parents at the meeting.

Discussions around the issue, which dates back to 2013, became heated on Saturday as accusations were levelled at the school’s management and angry parents demanded that the missing money be returned.

It is understood that the Department of Education was alerted in 2013 when it was first discovered that some R30 000 was missing.

Little was done until an interim audit report, conducted on the behest of the department last year, found that banking statements were outstanding for January, February, May, June and October 2017.

It also revealed instances where large sums of money had been deposited, but no receipt books recorded the amount collected.

In addition, there were instances where money had been receipted but no deposits had been made.

In other instances, monies were receipted, but on part of the sum had been deposited and the balance of the deposit was unaccounted for.

ALSO READ: Allegations of mismanagement surround Sparks Secondary School

Addressing the packed hall during the meeting, a teacher from the school said the Department of Education and School Governing Body had been informed in 2013 that R30 000 had disappeared.

“We were told by department that the matter had nothing to do with the teachers,” she said.

“We were threatened with losing our jobs, we saw money going and there was nothing we could do. Everyone who knew about this and did nothing must be held accountable, including the education officials,” she added.

Shocking revelations

Among the shocking revelations at the meeting was the fact that there were multiple key holders who had access to the school’s safe.

The school’s dire financial straits was directly linked to the lack of maintenance and the fact that the school remained in a state of disrepair.

It was also revealed that some teachers employed by the School Governing Body had not been paid, while some parents had been handed over to lawyers for allegedly not paying school fees which they maintained they had paid.

The school’s current finance officer, Mr S Reddy who only recently took up his position at the school said he had found it strange that in February they had been told the school had no money.

“Everybody knows that at the beginning of each year, schools have lots of money because that is the period when parents pay school fees.”

Reddy said he only discovered that large sums of money were missing when he realised that there was more than one receipt book in use.

“I was only checking the one official book, not knowing that there was another receipt book were money was being collected,” he said.

Department of Education responds

On Monday, learners and parents protested outside the Department of Education offices in Umbilo, demanding officials take action.

Commenting on allegations of corruption at the school, Mr TT Mthembu, the representative of provincial education, Umlazi District said officials had concluded a very successful meeting with the School Governing Body, parents, teachers and Learner Representatives and the matter was now in the hands of the School Governing Body.

“The meeting resolved that the new school governing body needs to collect and collate information. Another meeting will be held to seek a way forward collectively. The department will be pursuing this matter,” said Mthembu.

The School Governing Body confirmed that it has opened a case of fraud at the Sydenham Police station.

“It is evident that there are deep seated issues within the school and to ensure that the school moves forward we have to deal with those issues. I have to state that we have had good cooperation from the teachers, who are also of the view that those involved must be held accountable. It was a free for all, a looting spree if I have to simply put it,” said Wilbert Sibanda, Chairperson of the SGB.

Cosas threatens to shut down school

Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Students (Cosas) has threatened to shut down the school.

“There has been a lot of misconduct reported to the Department of Education since 2013 – misconduct by the principal and the school management team. Pupils have not received reports and important matriculation documentation has not been signed off on, where pupils have been accused of not paying fees. Pupils cannot be held accountable for matters between the school and parents. We want the department to tell us what action they are taking – and against whom. And if they don’t take proper action any time soon, we will shut down the school,” said Sphamandla Khomo, Cosas Regional Secretary.

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