School budgets face guillotine

RISING municipal electricity and water tariffs are ‘throttling’ local school budgets, which will soon impact negatively on teaching as schools are forced to introduce more emergency cost-saving measures.

The non-budgeted spikes on monthly accounts have left principals in a state of panic as they desperately seek ways to foot increased bills.

Several schools in Richards Bay and Empangeni told the Zululand Observer they had received excessive increases in their bills for sewer, electricity, water and refuse collection over the past few months.

Veldenvlei Primary School Principal V Raubenheimer said while they had budgeted about ‘R19 000 per month for its water and lights’ account, their last amount had increased to R38 000.

‘Obviously at this rate we are going to run into serious trouble soon as our budget will be depleted long before the end of our financial year,’ Raubenheimer said.

‘We cannot just put up school fees suddenly.

‘This is R240 000 out of my budget. How will I pay my teachers? I am worried and cannot sleep at night.

‘We have written to the municipality to explore ways of bringing relief to our schools, but have not received any reply,’ Raubenheimer said.

At Empangeni High School, their March account stood at R120 000 for water, electricity, sewer and refuse collection.

‘We are not running air conditioners, switch off lights and the hostels are not allowed to use certain equipment to cut down costs. Parents will face between 16 to 20% increase in school fees if the situation does not change,’ said Empangeni High School Principal Zelma Matthee.

Fixed rate

The situation is also dire at Arboretum Primary School, where Principal Kobus Buitendag said the last municipal account reached R60 000 – an increase of more than R10 000.

‘The school will not be able to pay these bills. We are paying R3 000 alone for 18 refuse bins to be collected.

‘We are not a profit-making organisation and should be given the cheapest fixed rate possible,’ said Buitendag.

He said unfortunately parents faced a 15% increase in school fees to meet the proposed R720 000 municipal tariff per annum.

‘This is a vicious circle which will turn into a monster. Our grant subsidy currently stands at R800 000.

‘If we increase school fees, we will receive more subsidy applications from parents who cannot afford the fees.’

Buitendag said he had approached uThungulu District Cllr Nellenie Naidoo, who undertook to arrange a meeting to which all affected schools and stakeholders would be invited.

‘I believe the municipalities will have to consider introducing a subsidy system pertaining to schools, otherwise we face bleak times,’ Buitendag said.