Sibukosethu Primary School shut down by disgruntled parents

Parents of Sibukosethu Primary School learners are facing a dilemma after the School Governing Body (SGB) informed them of the alleged maladministration of funds by the school’s management.

The families have since called for the immediate suspension of the principal whom they accuse of corruption, deception, and maladministration.

On Wednesday, September 4, members of the SGB told WITBANK NEWS during the first term, parents allegedly paid the school for winter uniforms, which they have never received.

Parents also levelled allegations against the principal over donated tablets meant for learners that were allegedly never received.

The newly elected members of the SGB told WITBANK NEWS that at the beginning of the year, they were summoned to the district offices in KwaMhlanga.

“They told us that the school had lost an amount of R400 000 in 2022 and the bank managed to save R350 000 from that money.

They also informed us that a criminal case was opened with the police, and they would conduct their investigations. We later learned that the case was closed,” the members outlined.

The newly appointed SGB members reckoned that the district office advised them to reopen the case, as they allegedly were then given the school’s receipt book as evidence.

“The receipt book that we were given had missing pages and some pages were torn off,” the members explained.

The SGB outlined that they forwarded the receipt to the circuit and district offices along with a letter detailing their grievances, and allegedly no response was issued.

“It was because of the lack of response that led to sharing this information with the parents, and they decided for the immediate suspension of the principal. When that didn’t happen, the parents resorted to displaying their grievances with the school shutdown,” the members outlined.

On Monday, September 9, members of the SGB said that they were briefed by the Department of Education’s district members, and the principal was allegedly suspended with immediate effect.

Mpumalanga Department of Education spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, confirmed that the department was aware of the issue and would attend to it.

“The principal is currently reporting to the circuit office while the department is in the process of appointing an acting principal. Learning and teaching have resumed while the department is currently investigating the allegations against the principal.

The department also urges parents to refrain from closing schools and engage the relevant authorities whenever there are issues of concern,” Sambo confirmed.

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