By Rebone Motlhokwane
Angry parents at Bulelani Primary School in Randfontein took to the streets last week, demanding the removal of the principal for alleged financial irregularities.
The parents accuse the principal, Mzwamadoda Rajuile, of misusing the funds allocated to the school by the Department of Education, while the school lacks basic supplies, such as paper and printer ink. They say that since the arrival of the principal in 2019, learning has been disrupted at the school.
“Now as parents we have decided to act, our children do not have the community to support them, we as parents are the community, we are supposed to support them as parents. The main fact is that we do not want the principal,” said Nonthutuzelo Dinga, who is a parent to a grade 7 pupil at the school.
Parents are worried that the situation will impact negatively on their children’s ability to write the June exams.
“It is possible for our children to not write exams in June because of how bad the situation is in this school, there’s no paper, nothing.” said Boniswa Bono.
According to parents, a representative from the Department of Basic Education requested that they should be given two working days to deal with the removal of the principal after a meeting on Wednesday.
Erick Qheba, who has a child at the school, said they have given the department until on Monday to remove the principal and if that doesn't happen they will be forced to continue protesting until their demand has been met.
When asked for comment, the Gauteng Department of Education’s spokesperson Steve Mabona, said he was not aware of the situation.