IT seems a school's financial mismanagement issues will never end.
Concerned parents and residents held a peaceful demonstration at Tsebe Nthla Primary School on Monday, 23 June. The civic movement, Soil of Africa (SOA), was also part of the demonstration.
The march followed allegations raised during a recent public engagement. Learning was not interrupted during the march and staff wasn't intimidated.
However, Temba police, Tshwane Metro and crime prevention wardens had a different reaction to the protesters and the situation almost got physical.
It's alleged that the principal misused more than R1 million in school funds - money that was contributed by parents under the pretence that the school was a private school.
To date, R65 000 remains in the school's account with no record of how the money was spent.
SOA president Bongani King Ramontja said: "This is a clear breach of fiduciary duty violating Section 20 of the South African Schools Act, which outlines the school governing body's responsibility to manage school finances honestly and transparently.
Parents said that they called SOA to help them get answers. They said parents who speak out have had their kids abused and forcibly removed from the school premises.
"We are being targeted for speaking out against the principal's alleged financial mismanagement," claimed a parent.
Other parents were served with protection orders.
Ramontja said: "We, Soil of Africa, are not here for theatrics but justice, truth and for the protection of our children without fear or favour. Our demands are very simple: an independent forensic audit of the school's finances, immediate investigation by the Department of Basic Education and Child Protection Services, the suspension of the principal pending the outcome of an impartial inquiry and the protection for whistleblowers, parents and pupils who speak out."
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Education spokesman Steve Mabona said a group of less than 50 people protested outside Tsebe Nthla Primary School in Hammanskraal.
"The department requested the police to remind the people that disruption of learning and teaching is a criminal offence. Anyone who is unhappy with our schools must interact with us. Accordingly, disruptions of schools will not be tolerated," he said.
The principal in question was suspended by the department for the same allegations and was returned to the school without any engagements between the department and parents.
