- The DA wants urgent investigations after Ulwazi High’s principal and SGB allegedly spent over R1-million meant for pupils on food, alcohol and cash withdrawals.
- MEC Fundile Gade has seven days to respond to a DA memo demanding audits, lifestyle checks and criminal action against officials linked to school corruption.
The Democratic Alliance has given Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade seven days to act after serious corruption claims at Ulwazi High School in Mdantsane.
An investigation found that more than R1-million meant for food, learning materials and school repairs was instead spent on luxury meals, alcohol, fuel and cash withdrawals.
Ulwazi High is a no-fee public school with about 1,200 pupils, where children are said to eat plain samp without fruit and often get only one meal a day.
Principal Mihlali Makhalima has been suspended. He is well known in Buffalo City for keeping a 100% matric pass rate since 2016.
Records reportedly show that more than R250,000 went to fancy restaurants in East London, R450,000 was withdrawn from ATMs and R226,000 was taken as cash back from grocery tills.
Payments were also made to liquor outlets, fast food chains, lounges and car washes using a card linked to the school’s account.
DA spokesperson for Education Horatio Hendricks said the corruption at Ulwazi High is not unique, calling for province-wide investigations into school finances.
He said many schools are failing to follow rules on accounting, with some principals using school cards for personal spending.
The DA’s memorandum demands a forensic audit, lifestyle audits for all officials involved, criminal charges and the recovery of stolen funds.
Pictured above: DA members hand over a memorandum to the Eastern Cape Department of Education in East London.
Image source: Supplied
