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The school’s Grade 12s have also raised their concerns over teacher vacancies that had not been filled when schools opened this year.

One pupil said they had considered moving to another school because they feared they might fail.

In an e-mail dated January 25, the pupil wrote: “We do not have an English educator, yet we are expected to perform… We have lost over 100 years of (teacher) experience in five months. Over 20 excellent educators have left in two years, why?”

According to Gauteng Department of Education spokesman Charles Phahlane, two (English and business studies) of three teacher vacancies were recently filled.

“The consumer studies teacher resigned on January 23 without proper notice. An educator who was supposed to replace her came to the school but she was not suitable. The school is currently finalising another replacement,” said Phahlane.

On the alleged financial mismanagement, some of the pupils’ registration forms, mostly dated to the early months of last year, have written notes of amounts, referred to as “donations,” ranging from R500 to R3 500, that are being requested from parents.

Staff alleged that pupils who had been initially rejected at the school but later paid the “donations” would be accepted. They said Naidoo would accept the cash payments himself, which is against policy, before passing on the money to the school’s bursar.

In June last year, a teacher, who had been at the school for less than a year, had problems recovering a R5 000 loan to Naidoo.

Phahlane said the department had appointed an independent forensic audit team to conduct an investigation into the school’s affairs and the allegations levelled against Naidoo. “In addition, we are also initiating a Whole School Evaluation exercise that will look into every aspect of the school.”

As a state teacher and principal, Naidoo is not allowed to speak to the media – with all queries being handled by the provincial department.