Johannesburg - A security business which has received tenders worth hundreds of thousands of rand to protect a school in Lenasia is owned by the school's principal.
The principal of Southview High School, Rajantheran Naidoo, is the sole director of Barn Security Services cc, which has been doing work for the school for the past three years. Naidoo is listed as a director of three businesses: Barn Security Services cc, Doc 4 Check cc and RBN Distribution cc.
When asked why he owned the business which provided these services for the school, Naidoo admitted owning the business but said he didn’t know that what he had been doing was wrong.
“I read something that made me believe it might be a problem and so I am in the process of selling the company,” he said, adding that lawyers were busy with the paperwork for the sale.
“I want to avoid any problems.”
In the Gauteng legislature, the DA asked Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi about the security contract at the school, and it was confirmed that the Barn Security Services provided security for the school. The contract was worth R14 000 a month and has been operating since the beginning of 2012.
To date, nearly R500 000 has been paid for services provided by the company.
The MEC was also asked about construction of a hall at the school, which is awaiting approval to be finalised.
“The school had appointed an architect who was also working as an inspector at the council to draw the plans and requested him to submit the plans on behalf of the school, only for the school to later learn that the architect had resigned from the council,” Lesufi said.
The MEC added that the construction work for the hall was “carried out by members of the SGB (school governing body), using their own labourers whenever they have raised some donations”.
Departmental spokeswoman Phumla Sekhonyane said they weren’t aware of these allegations but they viewed them in a serious light. She said the decision to appoint service providers at school level lay with the SGB.
“However, we have requested officials from the department to immediately investigate these allegations, and the necessary actions will be taken should these allegations be true,” she said.
The Public Administration Management Act prohibited public servants from conducting business with the state or being a director of a public or private company that conducts business with the state, she said.
“Failure to comply with this prohibition constitutes serious misconduct which may result in the termination of employment by the employer.”
DA MPL for education Khume Ramulifho said the security contract was another example of corruption within schools.
“We seem to be losing the fight against corruption in schools. And nothing ever seems to be done about it. We identify the corruption and no action is taken by the department against the perpetrators.”
He said there were numerous examples of this. At Glenvista High School, for instance, a forensic audit was made public showing financial problems and promises were made that something would be done, but there has been no action yet, Ramulifho said.
“This is money which is supposed to be used for the benefit of the school and its pupils, but it’s just going into the pockets of individuals,” he said.
Last year, The Star revealed that the Gauteng Education Department spent R10 million a year on forensic investigations. There were 159 audits conducted in the past five years, with 29 principals implicated in wrongdoing through the reports. But the only action taken is that the SGB is dissolved.
The problem is widespread, according to a report on corruption at schools released by Corruption Watch recently.
Titled “Loss of Principle”, the report was based on investigations into numerous schools around the country.
Corruption Watch executive director David Lewis said the majority of complaints were allegations of collusion between school principals and SGB members who diverted school funds into their hands.
Their report indicated that principals were involved in multiple acts of corruption, ranging from financial mismanagement to abuse of power regarding pupils.
The Star
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