MEC warns that misused school funds amount to ‘theft of opportunity’ from children

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile says corruption in schools deprives learners of opportunities and has vowed that disciplinary and criminal action will be taken against those found guilty of financial misconduct. Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has vowed to intensify action against corruption in schools after communities demanded stronger accountability for the management of public funds and educational resources. The issue emerged as a major concern during the province’s “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child” outreach programme, with parents expressing frustration over alleged financial mismanagement in schools.

“Parents repeatedly demanded stronger accountability for the management of school finances, procurement processes and public resources,” Maile said. Maile warned that corruption directly undermines the quality of education and deprives learners of opportunities. “They made it clear that corruption steals directly from children because every misappropriated rand reduces opportunities for teaching, infrastructure, learner support and educational development,” he said.

The MEC confirmed that investigations into alleged financial misconduct involving principals, School Governing Body members and other officials are continuing. “These matters include allegations of procurement irregularities, unauthorised expenditure, abuse of school finances and failures to comply with statutory financial management responsibilities,” the report states. Maile said disciplinary and criminal action would be pursued wherever evidence of wrongdoing is found.

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“Where evidence confirms wrongdoing, disciplinary action, criminal investigation and recovery processes are pursued without fear or favour because corruption is incompatible with quality education and developmental governance,” he said. In one of the strongest statements in the report, the MEC declared that public funds allocated to schools belong to learners. “Public funds belong to learners. Misusing them is not simply financial misconduct, it is the theft of opportunity from the African child,” Maile said.

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