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SAIM HEAD TEACHER ARRESTED FOR E120 000 SCHOOL FUNDS

06/05/2014 05:59:00 BY KWANELE DLAMINI

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MBABANE – The head teacher of SAIM Christian High School has been arrested for allegedly misappropriating nearly E120 000 in school funds.

Solomon July Sukati of Siphocosini has been charged with 10 counts of contravening Section 27 of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006. The total amount that he is alleged to have misappropriated is E118 252. It is alleged that he committed the alleged offences in collaboration with the School Committee.

Between August 2009 and May 2013 he is alleged to have engaged companies that are directed by his nephew and brother-in-law to do business with the school and authorised payment of thousands of Emalangeni by cheque. The offences were allegedly committed at Mpolonjeni where the school is situated. One of the companies that the school did business with is ALM Construction (PTY) LTD which is directed by Mfanukhona Martin Masuku and Thembelihle Masuku. The other company is Turn The Page Investments (PTY) LTD whose directors are Phesheya Victor Hlatjwako and Nelisiwe Sihle Hlatjwako.

When Sukati engaged in the business transactions with the said companies, he is alleged to have been aware that there existed relations between himself and some of the directors. By virtue of such relations, he is said to have had a direct or indirect interest when he engaged in business transactions with the companies.
Masuku (Mfanukhona) and Hlatjwako (Phesheya) are his brother-in-law and nephew, respectively.

According to the charge sheet, in his capacity as the head teacher and administrator of the school, he had a duty to disclose such relationships to the School Committee and the Teaching Service Commission (TSC). “And notwithstanding the existence of that relationship the said accused knowingly failed to disclose the nature of that interest and thus contravened the said Act,” reads part of the charge sheet.

It is also stated in the charge sheet that engaging in business under the circumstance is unlawful. Sukati appeared before Magistrate Sihle Dludlu yesterday. He was represented by Kwanele Magagula. In all 10 counts he has been charged under the Prevention of Corruption Act No.3 of 2006. The school committee is cited as having worked in collaboration with Sukati when conducting such business.

The second count states that: “At or near Mpolonjeni, the accused, being an employee of a public body, to wit, a Head teacher of SAIM Christian High School and also being administrator of the said school working in collaboration with the School Committee did unlawfully conduct business with ALM Construction (PTY) LTD a company whose directors are Mfanukhona Martin Masuku and Thembelihle Masuku and authorised payment in the sum of E27 337. 50 by means of cheque No. 004034 dated May 22, 2012. The said Mfanukhona Masuku is a brother-in-law to the accused.”