Uproar as school funds vanish at Zenzeleni High School
Some parents at the school have questioned the disappearance of R70 000
ALLEGATIONS of theft and financial mismanagement, which have rocked Zenzeleni High School in Mtunzini, have prompted the intervention of the District Department of Education.
Some parents at the school have questioned the disappearance of R70 000, which was withdrawn from the school account and placed under a car seat, where it went missing.
‘This cash was withdrawn in Richards Bay by the principal and three former SGB members on 8 August this year, to pay a service provider for electricity, stationery and security guard and also for the school petty cash,’ said one parent, who accused the principal of breaking the law, by using non-eligible persons to perform the SGB activities.
‘The three members were no longer part of the SGB but the principal used them to withdraw the money. We also demand to know why, as the service provider is normally paid by cheque,’ he said.
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Former SGB Chairperson
When pressed for comment, former SGB chairperson, Walter Dube confirmed the withdrawal of the money.
‘We were later forced to withdraw another R50 000 to pay the service provider. After withdrawing the money, two of the SGB members had to go back into the bank to ask for a bank statement, while the principal and I were left in the car.
‘Later the principal asked me to check why it was taking so long for the two members to return.
‘We did not open a case with the SAPS, because the principal later revealed that he kept the money to buy new school desks.’
The current SGB chairperson, Sindisiwe Ntombela said she could not comment further as they were new to the SGB.
‘Even though we were elected in March , we only started work at the end of August.’
King Cetshwayo District Director of Education, David Chonco said his department will initiate an investigation to get to the bottom of what transpired.
‘Our preliminary investigation revealed that an amount of R70 000 was used to acquire new school desks,’ he said.
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