R220K ‘missing’ at Forest High School – report

A tip-off from concerned members of the school governing body at Forest High in Turfontein has prompted the Gauteng education department to launch an investigation into the disappearance of R220,000 from the school’s bank account.

According to a report published by The Star, the SGB’s concern was prompted when school management failed to account for the missing funds.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, an SGB member told the publication that the money that was unaccounted for was for school fees, registration and any “other cash-related matter the school kids paid for.”

The publication cites an audit report in their possession which shows that cash amounting to R369,273  was received through the window desk and recorded in the cash receipt books between January and June 2017.

There is a discrepancy of R211,488 between the cash receipt books and the school’s bank statement which shows that only R157,785 was deposited into the school’s bank account.

The audit report also highlights the fact that the school failed to record the cash transactions on an official, pre-printed letterhead in a receipt book with continued numbered sequencing as per the Public Finance Management Act.

The person who was responsible for the school’s funds was a financial clerk who resigned after the report was released and has since died.

According to current SGB chairperson Abraham Tshabalala, the department has taken all the books and the matter is being handled by forensics.

The education department’s spokesperson, Steve Mabona, said the matter was being handled at head office and that his department would communicate the outcome in due course.

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