For two weeks, about 30 pupils at Siyaphakama Senior Secondary School in Sterkstroom have been sitting at home because their parents cannot afford the R200 the school needs to pay teachers hired by the school governing body.
While parents and the DA claim principal Thamsanqa Pongolo had chased those who showed up without the R200, he denies this.
The teachers were hired last year and the school is waiting for the department of education to put them on its payroll.
Parent Chanel Fortuin said their children had not gone to school since the academic year started on January 9.
“All those who did not pay were told to go home until they pay the money. This has resulted in missing a lot in class,” she said. Fortuin said they had tried and failed to negotiate with Pongolo – something that the principal also dismissed as untrue.
“It is unlawful to keep children away from school because of money. Where are we expected to get the money? This means our children will stay at home this year,” she said.
DA councillor in Enoch Mgijima Lindy Haggard said the school’s demand for cash was an “outrageous abuse of the constitutional right”.
“This is a blatant contravention of the South African Schools Act. Pupils and their parents were told that those who did not pay the R200 would not start the year. Those who did not pay last year’s R200 had their reports withheld and a further R200 is demanded this year,” she said.
Haggard said they had taken the matter up with education MEC Mlungisi Mvoko, requesting his urgent intervention.
On Sunday Pongolo said: “I think the children heard that there is money that is wanted at the school and decided not to go to school knowing that there was an agreement to pay the R200. Some parents negotiated on how they will pay.
“Pupils are allowed to come to the school and parents to come and make arrangements on how they will pay,” he said.
Education spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima said no one was allowed to send pupils home over funds...