The principal and founder of a prestige private school in the north of Pretoria has finally come forward and commented on various claims against the school, including that it was operating without a licence and the school was in extreme debt.
Crede Deo Academy in Florauna have recently come under fire after the department of education closed the school’s doors in June, claiming that the school was operating illegally.
According to the department of education spokesperson, Phumla Sekhonyane, the school was not operating as a legal entity. “The department conducted an investigation and found that Credo Deo Academy is operating illegally and is contravening the policy governing the registration of Independent Schools,” Sekhonyane said.
Simone Fourie, principal of the school, said there are no truth to these claims and that the school had special permission to operate. She also said that the school is not closed.
“Because the department was dragging their feet with the paperwork we had special permission to proceed operations,” Fourie said.
She added that the school submitted their first files to apply in 2012 but due to the delay, they received permission to continue operating while the files were being processed. She also said the department had up to three spot checks by the department throughout the year and because of their arrangement, the school was not closed down.
Further she said the school is also registered at the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (Sacai), which gives the school approval for pupils to write the national senior certificate.
“Sacai also visited the school in February and were pleased with the school. “Fourie insisted that pupils return to the school after the school holidays.
“We are currently busy negotiating with the department of education and expect to be up and running withing four weeks. Because we handed in our files to teach lower grades first, we expect to hear from the department soon. Also because we are registered with Sacai we are also able to accommodate higher grades too. So there is no reason why our school cannot operate as normal.
The school was also accused of not paying their debt. One of these accusations came from a company that sells bulk deliveries of textbooks and claims that the school owes them up to R900 000.
The company issued a warrant of arrest which resulted in the arrest of the school’s liaison officer, Bernadette Dixon on 12 June.
Dixon was arrested on charges of fraud. According to reports Dixon was released on bail on the same day.
Fourie insisted that Dixon is not guilty and the school is doing everything within their power to restore her dignity.
“Dixon was only in charge of ordering the textbooks and her surname was written at the bottom of the e-mail. She is not guilty,” Fourie insisted.
Fourie said they are still in debt with the company partly due to failed transactions. She said the amount they owe is R56 062,80.
The school that was started in January 2013 is a boarding school that has up to 100 pupils registered.
Fourie claimed that she kept a low profile because she received death threats and was pelted with stones outside a pharmacy.
“I never left the country, or even Pretoria. I do not believe in running away from your problems.”
Fourie appealled to parents to continue supporting Crede Deo Academy.
Tammy Prinsloo, a parent of a grade 4 pupil, believes it is extremely unprofessional that the school has not made any efforts to communicate with parents since the reports that the school was operating illegal.
“Until now we have not received any letters or e-mails telling us that the school was still open. We are still completely in the dark,” Prinsloo said.
She added that she is waiting for an appointment with the department of education who will assist her in finding a new school for her daughter.
Prinsloo said after everything that happened she doubts if she would still support Crede Deo in the future.
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Private school forced to close doors
