Australian donor withdraws local school funding

AUSTRALIAN donor of the Borruso Harvest College in Iniwe, Robyn Borruso, has withdrawn her funding of the school following allegations of mismanagement and gross child negligence.

Earlier this month, the Zululand Observer published an article in which parents complained that the college was not registered with the Department of Education.

In an exclusive interview, Borruso this week said she was shocked at what she saw during a recent visit to the school.

‘I have been a sponsor of the orphanage and school since 2011 and have initiated several projects in an attempt to improve the lives of the orphans and the community of Eniwe,’ said Borruso.

‘Unfortunately, on my last visit to South Africa in February I was extremely distressed by what I found there. I attempted to discuss this with the school administrator Clement Masondo, but was unable to reach a solution. The combination of mismanagement and deception has resulted in my organisation no longer being able to be associated with the projects,’ Borruso said.

She said she was assured during the past two years that the application to register the school was being processed.

‘I was also told of Education Department officials requesting ‘petrol money’ in return for not inspecting the facilities. Upon my return to Australia I contacted the Department of Education, Department of Health and Social Services to make them aware of the situation and request the situation be monitored. To date I haven’t received any correspondence from them,’ Borruso said.

When the primary school was established, it was meant to accommodate 100 pupils and five teachers. But when Borruso visited the school in February it had more than 250 pupils and 15 teachers.

Other problems included poor maintenance of the school, unpaid teachers’ salaries and non-payment of school fees.

Borruso said children were also not provided with daily meals while a stove, to be kept in the school kitchen, was reportedly kept in Masondo’s room.

Computers purchased were allegedly pawned with the satellite dish disconnected. |

The school toilets were vandalised and posed a health hazard to children. A vegetable garden was to be planted to provide children with fresh nutritious meals, but the garden was overgrown with weeds,’ said Borruso.