Cape Town – A case of fraud is being investigated at St John’s Primary School in Buffeljagsrivier, Swellendam, following allegations of financial mismanagement against a school governing body (SGB) member who refused to make “unauthorised” payments to colleagues.
The person of interest, who said she approached the education district office with information, has cried foul, saying she was looking out for the best interests of the school.
Education MEC Debbie Schäfer’s spokesperson, Kerry Mauchline, said “financial irregularities” were noted in January, which has now led to a criminal investigation.
The investigation came after Lydia October, who was appointed as a financial officer to the SGB board last year, refused to pay SGB staff salaries in January as the “payments were not authorised”.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said: “A fraud case is being investigated by Swellendam SAPS. No one has been arrested or taken in for questioning at this stage.
’’The Department of Education can be contacted for more information.”
Mauchline confirmed the matter had been reported to the Overberg district office and “the financial officer, who resigned, is the person of interest at this stage”.
“October was appointed by the SGB as the financial officer of St John’s, responsible for school finances including payments, among other functions.
’’As October was employed by the SGB of the school and not the WCED, the WCED has no jurisdiction with regards to disciplinary action against her.
“The matter has been reported to SAPS. The district office is currently investigating the extent of the irregularities, and to determine whether disciplinary steps should be taken against WCED employees,” said Mauchline.
According to October, she was appointed as the school’s financial officer during January 2020.
“There was no handover process and neither had I signed a contract. During the December and January period, I was tormented by staff of St John’s with regard to finances,” said October.
October, who said she had been appointed through a verbal agreement between herself and the school’s acting principal, Karen Plato, added she had not paid the salary of an SGB-appointed Grade R teacher as she felt it would be “illegal to do so while schools were still closed” and no proper authorisation was given.
“Plato has made indirect accusations that I undertook to make certain payments without her permission. All payments that I had made were done so by order of Plato,” said October.
Plato declined to comment on the matter.
October said she felt her name was being “dragged through the mud” by Plato who was accusing her of theft while October had become aware of alleged overspending on the school’s budget.
“Plato gave me instructions to make (a number of payments during 2020).
“These expenses had not been budgeted for and were done without the SGB’s approval,” said October.
Cape Times