JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – The Gauteng Department of Education has distanced itself from allegations that Glenvista High School principal Yolindi de Jongh has been suspended.
An article published by the Mail and Guardian on September 22, headlined ”Principal of corrupt Glenvista High suspended”, stated that the principal of embattled Glenvista High School was suspended by the GDE for allegedly receiving payments for work she did not do.
The Gauteng Education Department spoke exclusively to the CHRONICLE to clarify the suspension allegations, saying: “Ms de Jongh was placed on precautionary transfer from September 8; the transfer will remain effective until her disciplinary enquiry has been concluded. Furthermore, implementations to be enforced by the GDE based on the KPMG forensic report are: civil action and recovery of payments made in respect of matters that were not in compliance with the South African Schools Act, specifically in regard to: SGB members who received a financial benefit; overpayments on S38A payments; payments made on behalf of the former principal; corrective action involving improvement of internal control environment, including policies and procedures and corrective action against the affected SGB members in terms of section 18A of the South African Schools Act.”
Glenvista High School Governing Body chairperson Prince Maluleke confirmed the above statement: “As far as we are aware the principal is still on precautionary transfer for a period of 90 days. This is nothing new and is standard practice in South Africa in a relationship between an Employer and Employee.”
The final figure spent through maladministration at Glenvista High School has not yet been quantified by the Johannesburg Specialised Crime Court and investigations are still ongoing.
