Alleged mismanagement of funds in schools has been under the spotlight recently with Nqobangolwazi Secondary School in Morgenzon allegedly charging R100 for stationery.
According to parents, the school refuses to give stationery to children who have not paid the money.
“We know the school to be a no-fees paying school, so why are we paying for stationery,” Mr Mzwakhe Nkabinde, a parent, said.
The parents claimed that they began paying the R100 in 2015 when they were told that the funds will be used to pay for teachers who will fill-in for teachers who go on leave, such as maternity or sick leave.
“We agreed to pay because we thought it was going to help the learners should a teacher be absent for a long period of time,” Mr Nkabinde said.
According to him, they are not sure how the money collected was used and if any funds were left.
The parents alleged that the school asked another R100 per learner in 2015 and last year as well.
“They said they are going to build carports, which they never built,” Mr Nkabinde said.
According to him, he did not pay the R100 last year because he could not afford it and as a result his child was victimised.
This school continues to collect R100 even this year.
“The school refused to register my children on 9 January, because I did not have the R100 they wanted.
“When I asked one of the teachers what the money was for, she said it was a stationery fee,” he said.
Mr Nkabinde also said he went to speak to Mr NS Dhladhla, deputy principal, after discovering that his children will not be registered.
The deputy principal allegedly threatened to call the police when he enquired about the R100.
He immediately left the school premises and was not allowed in the following day.
According to Mr Dhladhla, the parents were consulted about the fundraising and agreed to it.
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