TV show brands the Angel of Soweto 'a liar'

Published Nov 20, 2006

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By Lebogang Seale and Jillian Green Nelson Mandela called her the "angel of Soweto" and President Thabo Mbeki dubbed her school the "dream of Africa".

But now Jacqueline Maarohanye, principal of Ithuteng Trust in Klipspruit, Soweto, has been branded a liar who used the plight of vulnerable students to solicit money from local and international donors.

This is according to an investigation by Carte Blanche, aired on M-Net on Sunday night.

However, Mama Jackey, as she is affectionately known, rejected all the allegations put to her by Carte Blanche.

The 30-minute programme revealed how Maarohanye taught children at her school to lie about their past to ensure ongoing overseas sponsorships.

Some of the pupils alleged that she made them lie about the death of their parents and their living conditions.

They claimed she made them depict this in plays performed for some of the funders, who include talkshow host Oprah Winfrey, former US president Bill Clinton and the National Basketball Association.

Former pupil Simpiwe Ncoguthu has laid a charge of kidnapping and assault against Maarohanye after he reportedly was bundled into the boot of a car and assaulted by henchmen he claimed she had hired.

It was during this time that Mama Jackey frantically called Carte Blanche, claiming she was in hiding because she feared for her life.

Little did she know that the show's investigation went beyond alleged "threats".

The show claimed Maarohanye had been lying about the 100 percent pass rate achieved by her school over the years - in fact only 75 percent of the pupils passed.

She also allegedly failed to pay fees for former pupils at tertiary institutions.

At one stage, Parktown College sued Ithuteng Trust for R188 000 in unpaid fees. This was despite one of the sponsors, Sun International, confirming that R310 000 had been paid directly to Ithuteng.

And a former financial officer at the University of the Western Cape, Rensche Bell, confirmed payment conditions for at least 20 Ithuteng bursary students were not met.

The show further revealed that when Mama Jackey took about 45 children to the US in 2001 - where they appeared before the United Nations in New York - she allegedly told them to "cry like they didn't cry before" as that would evoke more compassion and funds.

Last month Maarohanye was arrested for public violence and malicious damage to property after leading her pupils in a protest march against alleged police failure to solve the death of a pupil in a fire at the school.

She will appear in court on November 30.

After several attempts, Maarohanye could not be reached for comment on Sunday.

Sponsorships she received included $1,2-million (R8,7-million) from Winfrey.

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