SCHOOL FUNDS USED TO PAY FOR LOBOLA

MBABANE – A member of the Mlindazwe High School committee is said to have been given E20 000 for lobola (dowry).
The member identified only as Babe Shongwe, has since resigned from the committee.

Shongwe confirmed that he received the funds adding that he had requested for a loan from the chairman. 
“Initially, I had requested for a loan from the chairman and head teacher of about E20 000, which I wanted to use for dowry. They gave me on condition that I construct a teacher’s house which I accepted,” Shongwe alleged.
He explained that the school provided building material and his contribution was labour.

Loan

He did not specify whether he was expected to repay the loan except to state that he had completed constructing the house.
Clarifying his involvement in the project since he was a member of the school committee, Shongwe said: “When the REO came here, she advised me to resign. She explained that it was wrong that a member of the school committee could benefit from school funds.”
He stressed that he had since resigned as per the advice.

However, the acting School Committee Chairman, Jan Dube, alleged that Shongwe was paid the large sum after digging a foundation of the house he was expected to construct.   
Upon further investigation by the Swazi News, it was revealed that the Chairman Sanele Tsabedze, was asked to take time off while investigations into how the school funds were utilised were ongoing.
This was on the advice of the Manzini Regional Education Officer (REO) Regina Shongwe early this month.
Shongwe, confirmed that she was aware of the matter but advised that further details be sought from the schools manager.

It was further gathered that parents were informed about the latest development last Friday during a meeting held at the school.
The acting Chairperson Dube, who was Tsabedze’s deputy said actually, the parents wanted clarity regarding what was happening at the school.
During the meeting, Dube said parents resolved that the REO should assist them in electing a new school committee.
He mentioned that elections dates were still to be confirmed with the REO.

Elaborating on the investigation, Dube said parents questioned the alleged misappropriation of approximately E97 000 from the school.
“Initially, the parents knew that the school had a bank balance of about E100 000 when schools closed for second term. But when schools reopened, we were told that there was only E7000 in the bank. They wanted to know what happened to the money because there had been no activities.
“He told the parents that he would explain himself in court,” the incumbent chairman said.

‘Ghost’

The head teacher Dumisani Dlamini was suspended by the Ministry of Education following allegations that the school had ‘ghost’ Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs).
During preliminary investigations it was found that government had been paying thousands of Emalangeni for non-existent pupils under the OVC Fund, which is managed by the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) office.
For each pupil government pays a sum of E1 950 for those in Form I to Form III and E2 500 for those in Form IV and Form V. For those in primary school, up to Grade IV, government pays E560.
The investigations are still ongoing.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: