MHLATANE HIGH HEAD TEACHER MAKHUBU FIRED

Dismissed Mhlatane Head teacher Simeon Makhubu.

MBABANE - The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has dismissed Mhlatane High School Head teacher Simeon Makhubu from work.
This follows Makhubu’s arrest after he allegedly defrauded the school a sum of E2.2 million and subsequent suspension by the TSC.

There is also a criminal case which is still pending at the High Court and the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has already filed an indictment, meaning the case will soon be heard in court.
According to a letter written by TSC acting Executive Secretary Ncamisile Mntshali, Makhubu’s dismissal is with effect from August 26, 2014.
She said in coming to an appropriate verdict, the commission considered the submission presented during the trial, the interest of the profession, Makhubu’s personal interest and the interest of the society; being parents and pupils who were prejudiced by his conduct.

“In view of the above factors, the commission considers that the sanction of dismissal from the service will be an appropriate sentence. Your conduct breached the trust between yourself as a financial controller and the employer. It is in the interest of the profession that a sentence be meted out as a corrective and deterrent measure to would-be offenders,” reads part of the letter.
The TSC further informed Makhubu that should he be occupying a house provided for by government, he was to vacate it within seven days and that he was entitled to apply for his personal pension contributions.
Makhubu was facing 20 charges and he pleaded guilty to 15 counts.

Charged

In the first count, Makhubu was charged with contravening Regulation 7.0 of the Schools Accounting Regulations of 1992 as read with Regulation 15 (1) (i) of the TSC.
According to an audit inspection, he made the school chairperson sign 210 blank cheques which practice was not permitted.
During his appearance before the commission, he pleaded guilty and stated that when he resumed his duties as head teacher at Mhlatane, he found that it was an established practice that the chairman would sign cheques and leave them with the head teacher.

He told the commission that the reason was that the school had too many operations and it would be cumbersome to operate without having to sign cheques.
His explanation was rejected by the commission, which noted that the practice of head teachers making school chairpersons sign blank cheques was on the rise. The commission said there was a need that school chairpersons should be prosecuted for neglect of duty.

‘Shobane’, as Makhubu is popularly known, also pleaded guilty to the loss of E2 216 150 in the school.
The commission said this count was disturbing to say the least.
The school’s secretary, one Queeneth Motsa, is alleged to have cashed cheques to the sum of E1 623 500 while teachers in the school are said to have cashed an amount of E149 650.
It was further noted by the commission that the spending of the E2.2 million was not supported by any invoice.

“An amount in excess of a million is unaccounted for. This is in respect of two years. The charges preferred against border on dishonesty. Government has made an effort to pay for destitute children which effort is undermined by the abuse of funds by some of our head teachers.  Having said the above, it is our considered view that the accused teacher be hereby dismissed from service with effect from August 26, 2014,” reads part of the ruling.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: