A senior Eastern Cape official faces a disciplinary hearing over alleged wasteful and fruitless expenditure, after the state paid thousands of rands in a handshake deal following an irregular appointment.
These details are contained in an interim report by a task team. The report, compiled by professor John Volmink, has been submitted to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
The Volmink report comes amid an ongoing probe into allegations that the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and other unions have been “selling” teaching posts.
The Daily Dispatch has seen the report. Volmink, who had declined in an interview with the newspaper recently to release details of his report, states in it that the official, in the Grahamstown district office, should be disciplined. The official’s name is known by the newspaper.
Eastern Cape education department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “The principals of the department have received the report. The management is on leave, and surely the report will be interrogated at a first management meeting that will be held on January 4?”
Mtima would not comment further.
The department paid R90000 to a member of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa, Boyce Klaas, after he lodged a dispute over the interview process for a principal’s post at Siwisa Primary in Grahamstown.
Klaas was initially recommended for the post by the school governing body. “But due to alleged Sadtu influence, the panel re-performed the interviews. We understand that in this process, the panellists were instructed to ‘overscore’ above other candidates ,” the report states.
In another similar case, Siphokazi Mbena, a teacher at KwaNoxolo Primary in Port Elizabeth, was paid R40000 after she lodged a dispute because she was not shortlisted for interviews for a principal’s post at the school, despite her holding a PhD.
Mbena challenged the department after a teacher, said to be a prominent Sadtu member, was recommended for the post despite only teaching Grade 12 isiXhosa.
Volmink said the matter was resolved through arbitration and there was no need to take further action as it could go to the Labour Court.
Other cases include:
l Questions about the qualifications of a Sadtu member in the Uitenhage district, who is occupying a senior administrative post despite having allegedly never submitted his qualifications. In his report, Volmink recommends that the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) verify the unionist’s qualifications;
l SAQA to be approached to verify the qualifications of another teacher linked to Sadtu at Mkhululi Junior Secondary in Cofimvaba. The teacher’s qualifications were called into question after he was appointed to a senior position; and
l The firing of a Uitenhage circuit manager, after the manager blew the whistle on the alleged misappropriation of funds by a suspended principal and his deputy, both of them linked to Sadtu, at Mzamomhle Special School. Due to the fact the department was dealing with the case, Volmink could not make a recommendation.
Volmink’s team has held investigations in Port Elizabeth, Mthatha, Grahamstown and Uitenhage, and in the Ngcobo and Cofimvaba districts.
Next year his team will conduct investigations in East London, Queenstown, King William’s Town, Maluti, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Qumbu, Fort Beaufort, Lady Frere, Lusikisiki, Sterkspruit, Butterworth, Mount Frere, Dutywa, Libode, Mbizana and Mount Fletcher. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
Top official faces probe on spending
These details are contained in an interim report by a task team. The report, compiled by professor John Volmink, has been submitted to Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga.
The Volmink report comes amid an ongoing probe into allegations that the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu) and other unions have been “selling” teaching posts.
The Daily Dispatch has seen the report. Volmink, who had declined in an interview with the newspaper recently to release details of his report, states in it that the official, in the Grahamstown district office, should be disciplined. The official’s name is known by the newspaper.
Eastern Cape education department spokesman Malibongwe Mtima said: “The principals of the department have received the report. The management is on leave, and surely the report will be interrogated at a first management meeting that will be held on January 4?”
Mtima would not comment further.
The department paid R90000 to a member of the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa, Boyce Klaas, after he lodged a dispute over the interview process for a principal’s post at Siwisa Primary in Grahamstown.
Klaas was initially recommended for the post by the school governing body. “But due to alleged Sadtu influence, the panel re-performed the interviews. We understand that in this process, the panellists were instructed to ‘overscore’ above other candidates ,” the report states.
In another similar case, Siphokazi Mbena, a teacher at KwaNoxolo Primary in Port Elizabeth, was paid R40000 after she lodged a dispute because she was not shortlisted for interviews for a principal’s post at the school, despite her holding a PhD.
Mbena challenged the department after a teacher, said to be a prominent Sadtu member, was recommended for the post despite only teaching Grade 12 isiXhosa.
Volmink said the matter was resolved through arbitration and there was no need to take further action as it could go to the Labour Court.
Other cases include:
l Questions about the qualifications of a Sadtu member in the Uitenhage district, who is occupying a senior administrative post despite having allegedly never submitted his qualifications. In his report, Volmink recommends that the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) verify the unionist’s qualifications;
l SAQA to be approached to verify the qualifications of another teacher linked to Sadtu at Mkhululi Junior Secondary in Cofimvaba. The teacher’s qualifications were called into question after he was appointed to a senior position; and
l The firing of a Uitenhage circuit manager, after the manager blew the whistle on the alleged misappropriation of funds by a suspended principal and his deputy, both of them linked to Sadtu, at Mzamomhle Special School. Due to the fact the department was dealing with the case, Volmink could not make a recommendation.
Volmink’s team has held investigations in Port Elizabeth, Mthatha, Grahamstown and Uitenhage, and in the Ngcobo and Cofimvaba districts.
Next year his team will conduct investigations in East London, Queenstown, King William’s Town, Maluti, Graaff-Reinet, Cradock, Qumbu, Fort Beaufort, Lady Frere, Lusikisiki, Sterkspruit, Butterworth, Mount Frere, Dutywa, Libode, Mbizana and Mount Fletcher. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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