Education
(1) Whether she has received complaints in writing of financial irregularities and other challenges at the Vrijzee Preparatory School in the period 2017/18 to date; if so, (a) when were the complaints received, (b) what was the contents thereof and (c) how were these addressed;
(2) whether the financial irregularities at the school were raised with the WCED Metro North, which advised members of the SGB to sign off the 2017/18 audit report, despite their reservations but with the listing of their reservations; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are the relevant details, (b) what are the detailed steps taken by her Department to investigate those reservations and (c) what are the updates on the investigations;
(3) whether an investigation into allegations that funds allocated to meals for aftercare and all fundraised money have been used to pay a certain person, whose name has been furnished to her Department for the purpose of her reply and to her Senior Management Team in terms of section 38A, has been conducted; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
1. My department has informed me of the following:
Yes, complaints were received, and were investigated.
(a) 2 August 2018; 12 August 2018; 6 February 2019; 10 February 2019; 24 April 2019
(b) The complaints/allegations included:
- discrimination against complainant
- a teacher was elected as treasurer of the School Governing Body despite having little to no financial experience
- irregular process followed in filling the deputy principal’s post
- irregular procurement of a new telephone system
- certain religions at the school get preference over others
- irregularities and lack of transparency in procurement
- members of SGB had been blamed for not wanting Section 38A payments to be made to staff
- Alleged overpayment of staff
- Financial officer failed to deposit cash received and that cash-on-hand had a shortfall
(c) Each of the matters was investigated – many had already been resolved and in others, there was evidence demonstrating that the complaints were unfounded. Two matters, however, needed to be addressed:
- There was an administrative error in the payroll programme with respect to the payment of bonuses to staff members, which was rectified. No ‘overpayment’ occurred as the money was indeed due to the staff members.
- An SGB employee (not a WCED employee) had indeed failed to deposit cash received as per the allegation. The employee was subsequently dismissed, and the matter was reported to SAPS.
2. Yes, the matter was reported to the Metro North Education District. However, no instruction was given by the district to sign off the audit report. The SGB nonetheless submitted the audited financial statement to the district with a list of reservations attached.
- The reservations raised were:
- Receipting system
- Tuck shop
- Fun walk
- Contracts
A detailed description of the reservations was not provided.
- The matters were addressed as follows:
- Receipting system: it was found that there were receipting system errors, which were subsequently corrected.
- Tuck shop: there was an error in the capturing of the Fun Walk income under the tuck shop account, and this was rectified.
- Fun walk: the income was incorrectly captured, and this was corrected, as stated above.
- Contracts: concerns were raised over the school’s contract with their photocopier provider – the SGB decided to appoint a new service provider. Concerns were raised over the school’s contract with their independent auditor – the SGB decided to appoint a new independent auditor.
- The matters were resolved.
3. Yes. Aftercare income, fundraising income, school fees, norms and standards funding, and all other income, form part of the total income of the school from which expenses are paid. There was no additional or extra amount charged specifically for meals, as the aftercare fees were all-inclusive.
The aftercare was profitable for the financial periods 2017 – 2019. Expenditure incurred was in line with the approved budget. During the 2017 and 2018 financial years, the school did pay Section 38A money to some WCED employees. This was duly approved as per the operation of SASA. As of 2019 Section 38A remuneration was stopped.
