Media Talk Africa: Latest Headlines in Politics, Business, Sports, and More

The Eastern Cape Department of Education is currently looking into allegations of financial mismanagement at Excelsior Comprehensive School in Mthatha, South Africa. The investigation was initiated following protests by students who complained about a severe shortage of textbooks and desks. The school’s governing body has expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the school’s financial reports.

Students from grade 10 at Excelsior Comprehensive School staged a protest, voicing their demands for adequate textbooks and desks. The learners also highlighted issues such as overcrowded classrooms, unsanitary toilets, and poor infrastructure. To draw attention to their grievances, they created a Facebook page called Sicela Uncedo (we seek help). However, some teachers allegedly threatened them with expulsion for speaking out.

The learners reported that they had to share nine Geography textbooks among 67 students, and there was also a shortage of textbooks in other subjects. Teachers confirmed these claims. Additionally, there wasn’t enough desk space, with three to four learners having to share a single desk. As a result, exams had to be taken in batches due to the lack of sufficient seating.

The school’s governing body chairperson, Mduduzi Dlamini, expressed frustration, saying, “We pay school fees and buy stationery, but there are no textbooks, and if a learner loses a book, a parent is forced to pay for it. Where does that money go? We don’t know.” Excelsior Comprehensive School has over 1,600 learners from grade R to 12, with school fees ranging from R1,200 to R4,500 per year.

A member of the school’s governing body, Athi Ntelesa-Mangcotywa, revealed that the school generated R3 million in the previous year. However, both Ntelesa-Mangcotywa and Dlamini, who recently joined the governing body, claimed they had not received any financial reports from the school principal, Mluleki Nikelo, or the school treasurer, Ntombovuyo Qakaza. The failure to provide a financial report, along with other concerns, was reported to the education department.

In response, the education department spokesperson, Malibongwe Mtima, stated that the financial report submitted by Nikelo was rejected because it lacked parents’ signatures and minutes from a parents’ meeting. Mtima clarified that Excelsior is a quantile 4 school, receiving some government support but responsible for purchasing its own furniture and textbooks, with language textbooks having already been provided this year. Nikelo mentioned that he had requested additional textbooks from the department and was waiting for a response. He also shared that they had borrowed desks from another school but still needed more.

Despite the challenges, Excelsior Comprehensive School has consistently achieved matric pass rates of over 90% and is considered one of the top schools in Mthatha. The Motsepe Foundation has made substantial donations to the school, recently contributing R320,000. Students are now calling for these funds to be utilized to address the shortage of desks, chairs, and textbooks.

GroundUp, while exploring the school premises with Ntelesa-Mangcotywa, observed neglected buildings, broken toilets, leaking roofs, and inadequate classroom space. The dire conditions even led to a teacher sustaining an injury due to a collapsed ceiling and broken floor. In the staff room, teachers were seen using broken chairs.

Efforts to obtain comments from school treasurer Qakaza without the presence of principal Nikelo were unsuccessful. Inquiries sent to the Motsepe Foundation also went unanswered at the time.

As the investigation continues, the Eastern Cape Department of Education aims to address the financial management concerns at Excelsior Comprehensive School and ensure the provision of essential resources for the students’ education.