The Democratic Alliance (DA) has put the Eastern Cape MEC for Education, Fundile Gade, on terms, as his department has forsaken the learners of the province by allowing rampant corruption and looting to take a stranglehold on school funds.
Today, I was joined by DA EC Provincial Chairperson, Yusuf Cassim MPL, DA EC Shadow MEC for Social Development, Marlene Ewers MPL, DA Buffalo City Constituency Leader, Leander Kruger MPL, community members and activists for a protest outside the Eastern Cape Department of Education’s district office in Mdantsane. We handed over a memorandum to an office representative, demanding that the department urgently investigate corruption in Eastern Cape schools.
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In addition to the memorandum, I have written to MEC Gade, issuing an ultimatum demanding that he provide feedback on our demands within seven days. Failure to meet this deadline will prompt the DA to escalate the matter to the Minister of Basic Education for urgent intervention.
We also launched a petition, calling on the people of the Eastern Cape to join the fight to protect our schools, safeguard learners’ futures, and hold corrupt officials accountable.
Our protest stems from a recent investigation that uncovered shocking allegations that over R1 million meant for school nutrition, learning materials, and maintenance at the Ulwazi High School in Mdantsane was instead spent on luxury meals, alcohol, fuel, and unexplained cash withdrawals by the principal and members of the School Governing Body (SGB).
These actions violate Sections 37 and 38 of the South African Schools Act, which require full documentation and approval of school expenditure, as well as the Eastern Cape Education Department’s financial policies governing school funds.
Unfortunately, the alleged financial mismanagement, corruption and looting of school funds at Ulwazi High, is not an isolated case. There are many similar examples across the province.
Our memorandum includes some of the following demands:
- An independent investigator be appointed to conduct a full forensic audit and/or investigation into Ulwazi High School, including the School Nutrition Programme and all related expenditure.
- Criminal referrals be made to the SAPS and relevant prosecuting authorities for all implicated individuals, in terms of the Public Finance Management Act and applicable Treasury Regulations.
- That the Department of Education pursue recovery of misappropriated or stolen funds through civil proceedings where necessary.
- The immediate firing of the Ulwazi High School principal due to the fact that the department has been aware of these transgressions for over three months.
The DA will not stand idly by while our children are robbed of a brighter future and a meaningful life of dignity by corruption and greed. We say enough is enough!