Gauteng schools implicated in fraud, financial mismanagement
Following a lengthy investigation into allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement at no less than 12 schools in Gauteng, Alrapark Primary School was reported to have been one of them.
This information was revealed in a written response by the MEC of Gauteng Education Panyaza Lesufi, shortly after the recent Gauteng Provincial Legislature, where the DA probed investigation into allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement at Gauteng Schools.
“Stealing from schools, is stealing from the taxpayer and this is a crime. Perpetrators must be brought to book,” DA Gauteng shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho said.
He added that the cases under investigation involve school principals and some uniform committee members, who have meanwhile been charged with misconduct.
“It is highly concerning that the principals and SGB members who are mandated to look after the school’s finances, are involved in fraud and financial mismanagement,” Ramulifho said.
In response to HERAUT’s enquiry on June 22, the Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed the following in writing:
- the principal of Alrapark Primary School was charged with misconduct and a sanction of two months suspension without pay and a final written warning was also imposed during 2015
- the principal allows the school to incur expenditure for his personal benefit
- the lease agreement for the erection of a cellular tower was signed by the principal without the involvement of the SGB;
* the principal appointed unqualified educators - the principal has undertaken the project to renovate the school, but does not provide the SGB with feedback
- the principal processed a cheque to the value of R10 000 for a school event without obtaining the signature of the SGB chairperson or the treasury
- the annual budget makes provision for sports, but there are no sport activities at the school
- Alrapark Primary School is a no-fee-paying school, yet the principal collects fees from learners and
- the principal refuses to introduce and implement an indigent policy.
Although the principal of Alrapark Primary School is prohibited from engaging directly with members of the media, he vehemently denied the allegations through a SGB member, Vusi Ranyawo.
The DA has now called on MEC Lesufi to engage with all principals, administration staff and SGBs on the proper and ethical handling of school funds, to ensure that there is effective financial management at all schools in the province.
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