School in Eastern Cape told to halt R400 'donation' fee for salaries

The Department of Basic Education has instructed Magadla Senior Secondary School in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, to cease its practice of charging pupils a R400 “donation” aimed at covering the salaries of two teachers and a security guard. 

This decision comes after concerns were raised by Economic Freedom Fighters Member of Parliament Babalwa Mathulelwa, who questioned the legality of such fees at a public institution.

“What are the reasons that learners at Magadla Senior Secondary School in the rural Matatiele are paying school fees when education is free in public schools?” Mathulelwa asked in her parliamentary question.

In her response, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said her department engaged with the Eastern Cape Department of Education to obtain a response on the matter.

“The Department of Basic Education has advised that the Alfred Nzo West District Office is aware that parents of Magadla Senior Secondary School had contributed R400 as a donation to the school,” she said.

Gwarube said the donations were intended to fund two SGB-employed educators and a security guard as a temporary measure pending the filling of vacant posts.

“This decision was sanctioned by the SGB and the broader community.”

District director Nandi Dabula said the decision was made to pay for the services of the two SGB-employed teachers at a rate of R6 000 each and one night security guard at a rate of R3 000 per month.

“This decision was also sanctioned by the SGB and the school community as evidenced by the attendance register,” Dabula said.

Gwarube stated that the arrangement was that once the vacant posts at the school were filled, the donation was to be discontinued.

“Two of the three posts have since been filled, and the principal of the school has been instructed to terminate the donation agreement with parents with immediate effect,” she said.

Dabula confirmed that two of the vacancies have since been filled.

“We also commit to fill the outstanding department head post in due course,” she said.

The department defended the decision of the school to make pupils pay for the salaries of the two teachers and a security guard.

Gwarube said the South African Schools Act provides that the governing body of a public school must take all reasonable measures within its means to supplement the resources supplied by the State in order to improve the quality of education provided by the school to all learners at the school.

Dabula supported her statement that the decision was guided by the Constitution and South African Schools Act (SASA) to act in the child’s best interest.

“The dictates of SASA Section 40 and the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (right to basic education) were also adhered to,” she said.

Dabula denied a suggestion that pupils at Magadla Senior Secondary School were paying school fees as implied by Mathulelwa in her parliamentary question to Gwarube.

“May I also indicate that there is absolutely no school in our district that’s charging school fees,” she emphasised.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za