School Governing Body borrows from loan sharks

LEBOHANG – Frustrated and angry pupils from Vukuqhakaze Secondary School burnt tyres and threw garbage on the school premises on Monday, 9 January.

The riots came after the pupils were told that the School Governing Body (SGB) was dissolved after complaints about alleged mismanagement and mal administration at the school.

Pupils said the school is dysfunctional and there is no electricity and stationery.

A letter dated 5 December was sent to the SGB and stated that after an investigation by the Department of Education into the status and the functions of the SGB, it was “clear that the SGB was not performing its functions in terms of the South African Schools Act and not functioning properly in controlling the finances of the school due to disturbances caused by one of the SGB members”.

The SGB did not expect this letter, but instead a response from the Department of Education about complaints they had launched about the school principal and his deputy managing the school funds alone and also drafting the budget.

They complained that the school borrowed money from loan sharks and that the school did not have enough stationery and pupils have to buy these themselves.

The minutes of the 2014/15 financial report attached to the letter to the department stated that lotd of money were spent on transporting teachers and the principal to and from meetings and workshops.

According to the minutes, the principal budgeted R50 000 for transport and claimed about R3 000 per month.

It also stated that the evidence provided by the principal was not satisfactory and it was recommended that he should produce circular letters and attendance registers.

The minutes said the school last received money for a feeding scheme in 2012, but the school spent more money on salaries and buying cleaning and cooking utensils.

The bank balance of the school was R2390-89 when the SGB took over in 2014 and on 13 May the Department deposited R305 558 into the school’s account.

However on the same day a cheque for R50 700 was signed for paying the loan sharks.

The school had borrowed R30 000 from the loan sharks at an interest rate of 30 per cent in March.

This was only paid in May at an interest of 60 per cent over two months and other unnamed transactions were made and the school was left with R75 000.

The Department of Education did not comment at the time of going to press.

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