Times Of Swaziland: HEAD TEACHER FIRED FOR MISMANAGEMENT OF E1.5M

HEAD TEACHER FIRED FOR MISMANAGEMENT OF E1.5M
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BY ZWELAKHE MOAHLOLI on 07/12/2013 05:24:00


MBABANE – Siteki Nazarene Primary School head teacher Mandla Nkambule has been
fired from the teaching service for alleged mismanagement of the school’s
funds amounting to approximately E1.5 million.
Nkambule was served with his letter of dismissal last month, following an
investigation that dates back to early last year.
According to documents, which this publication have in its possession, his
dismissal was with effect from November 5, 2013.
Part of the letter of dismissal reads: “...the sanction of dismissal from the
service will be an appropriate sentence. Your conduct breached the trust between
yourself as a financial controller and the employer. It is in the interest of
the profession that a sentence be meted out as a corrective and deterrent
measure to would be offenders.”
Nkambule, who shed tears when grilled by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC),
was expected to hand over school property within seven days from receipt of  the
letter.
When reached for comment, Nazarene Schools Grantee Fanyana Mabundza, said he
heard from the grapevine that Nkambule had been dismissed, but had not seen the
document.
“I cannot confirm because I do not have the instrument in my possession,
unless I get the instrument, read and understand it first,” Mabundza said.
Officially, Mabundza said he was aware that Nkambule had been on suspension for
alleged misconduct.
He added that the PAC also investigated the head teacher about alleged
mismanagement of the school’s funds.
Currently, the former Manzini Nazarene head teacher, Mabundza said they were
still waiting for recommendations from the PAC and the Teaching Service
Commission (TSC).
The problems emerged towards the end of 2011 when senior officials from the
Ministry of Education and Training visited the school after receiving a tip-off
that there was alleged serious mismanagement of funds.
The officials made impromptu investigations and a few days later, deployed
auditors to conduct a full-scale audit.
While the audit was still ongoing, during the 2011 December holidays, Senior
Career Guidance Officer Knowledge Ngwenya is also said to have visited the
school and allegedly took the school’s vehicle together with its blue book.
Things are said to have reached a climax when Education Ministry officials
allegedly convened a meeting at the school and announced that the deputy, Winile
Mvila, would be the acting head techer.
...SNAT to appeal Nkambule’s dismissal
MBABANE – The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) is ready to
appeal the dismissal of their member.
Mandla Nkambule was served with his dismissal letter last month, which was
signed on November 5, 2013 by the Executive Secretary of the Teaching Service
Commission (TSC), Mduduzi Nkambule.
Reacting to the news that their member had been fired, SNAT Secretary General
Muzi Mhlanga said they were still waiting for their member to furnish them with
the verdict.
“He once complained to us that his matter was not being handled properly,”
Mhlanga said. Mhlanga mentioned that Nkambule (head teacher) informed them that
the E1.5 million was an inflated figure.
“Even though he admitted that funds might have been mismanaged, he said the
amount was not E1.5 million.
“He told us that he might have been made a sacrificial lamb. He said some of
the money could have disappeared before his tenure. He said there were debts
that were incurred before his arrival at the school,” narrated Mhlanga.
The secretary general said they were sympathising with Nkambule because losing a
job was not a good thing.