Johannesburg - Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi intends to lay criminal charges against a former Glenvista High School principal and the governing body chairperson after an explosive forensic report on alleged corruption.
Lesufi revealed on Monday the duo had squandered millions of rand in school funds and that the governing body had authorised the principal’s purchase of air tickets, payments of levies at his holiday home, the installation of a carport and payment of hunting fees.
The forensic investigation was conducted by auditing firm KPMG. Lesufi commissioned the probe into allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement at the school after a complaint was made.
The report detailed that a debt-collection company linked to the governing body member had been appointed at the school, proper procedures were not followed when appointing teachers, teachers had been overpaid, and payments were made to the former principal for classes that hadn’t taken place.
Other findings were that the school had more than one bank account, without the department’s approval, while an investment account had been opened without the department’s approval,and individuals had benefited from that account.
Lesufi, along with the department’s accounting officer and head of department, is expected to lay charges against school governing body members who served between 2012 and the middle of last year.
On Monday, he condemned the wrongdoing at the school.
“I am shocked by this. This is the worst corruption in a school I have ever come across,” the MEC said.
It’s believed those implicated in the offences squandered millions of rand from the school’s funds, but Lesufi couldn’t give the exact figure.
The report also found that the former principal was responsible for the appointment of coaches at the school, including his daughter.
“He failed to recuse himself from the process and avoid a potential conflict of interest. Appointments of the coaches were not approved by the school governing body,” Lesufi said.
The principal’s contract has been terminated by the current governing body.
Lesufi said the teachers who had been overpaid would have deductions from their salaries, with interest.
The MEC said his department was in talks with the Hawks to assist them with the arrest of those implicated in the report.
“We want them to pay back the money,” he said, adding that the former governing body chairperson was now living in KwaZulu-Natal.
The Star