The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Youth Command in Alexandra on Tuesday handed over a memorandum to Sandton View Combined School, demanding urgent intervention over allegations of financial mismanagement, deteriorating infrastructure and poor governance at the institution.
The memorandum was submitted to the school’s management and the Gauteng Department of Education’s Johannesburg Region E District Office. It raises allegations against members of the school’s leadership and staff, including claims of poor financial management, inadequate learning resources, deteriorating hostel conditions, staff misconduct and a lack of accountability by school management.
The protest, which was monitored by police, drew parents, learners and members of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS), many of whom said they wanted answers about conditions at the school.
EFF Youth Command leader Katlego Phoshoko told Gauteng News the organisation had spent months engaging with concerns raised by parents and learners before deciding to protest.
“We are one political party that doesn’t just jump into starting protests. We had to arrange things properly before we came here,” he said.
Phoshoko alleged that the school had accumulated debt for municipal services, affecting day-to-day operations.
“The school is in debt. It owes for electricity and water and the debt is more than a million rand. These are issues that have been going on for some time,” he claimed.
He also alleged that a lack of functioning printing facilities had affected teaching and examinations.
“You’ve got learners sharing examination papers because printers are not working. Homework and notes cannot always be printed. These are things affecting the quality of education,” he said.
The memorandum also alleges that some teachers do not adequately teach learners, that the school’s hostel is in a poor condition, and that some staff members have acted unprofessionally. Gauteng News has not independently verified these allegations.
The EFF Youth Command is demanding action against several staff members named in the memorandum, including the principal and other employees.
Phoshoko said the organisation expected a response to the memorandum before deciding on its next course of action.
“We have a five-phase programme. Depending on the outcome of today’s memorandum, we may proceed with further action. On Friday, our focus will be to open cases with the police if no action is taken.”
He added that the organisation did not intend disrupting learning.
“Our intention is not to disrupt learning. Learners should continue attending school.”
Parents back calls for intervention
Parent Richard Mufamadi said many parents came to the school after receiving WhatsApp messages warning them to bring their children to school “at their own risk.”
“After listening to the EFF’s presentation, we realised they were raising the same issues that parents have been complaining about for the past five years,” he said.
Mufamadi alleged that the school had experienced ongoing problems with electricity, water and sanitation.
“The toilets are in a bad condition. These are issues we’ve been raising for years.”
He also questioned the process through which the current School Governing Body (SGB) leadership was elected.
“There is no division. What happened is a hijack. Parents were not properly informed about the election,” he alleged.
Learners raise concerns
COSAS Greater Alexandra chairperson Mosimaneutsile Boaelemang said learners had also raised concerns about conditions at the school.
He alleged that school resources had been misused and claimed some educators were reluctant to report problems.
Boaelemang further repeated allegations of inappropriate conduct by one educator. Gauteng News has not independently verified these claims.
He said COSAS had previously approached the Gauteng Department of Education but had not yet received a response.
“We will continue engaging the department and seek a way forward,” he said.
Memorandum details allegations
Among the issues raised in the memorandum are allegations that:
* Some teachers allegedly fail to teach lessons and instead only issue homework.
* The school’s hostel is allegedly in a dilapidated condition.
* Learners are reportedly forced to share examination papers because of non-functioning printing facilities.
* The school is allegedly experiencing financial difficulties, including unpaid municipal accounts.
* Several staff members are accused of misconduct and poor management.
These allegations have not been tested in court, and Gauteng News has not independently verified them.
Gauteng News has contacted Sandton View Combined School and the Gauteng Department of Education for comment. Their responses will be published once received.
