/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The IFP in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature calls for an urgent investigation into the state of financial affairs at Sukuma Comprehensive High School in Imbali, Pietermaritzburg, after yet another student protest on Monday morning.

Learners at the High School have again blocked roads with burning tyres, following another protest last week. Students were allegedly protesting due to water shortages, which occurred due to non-payment to Msunduzi Municipality, as well as broken windows. In addition, teachers are allegedly also sabotaging each other, rendering the school ungovernable.

We demand that the KZN MEC for Education, Kwazi Mshengu, together with the KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala, must institute an urgent investigation into the financial affairs at Sukuma Comprehensive High School. In particular, it must be determined why the School has failed to pay its debt to Msunduzi Municipality.

We further call for a wider investigation into the financial affairs of Section 21 schools that are failing to pay their debts every month. We have learnt that Sukuma Comprehensive High School’s issue is not an isolated case. Allegedly, even some schools in Durban are failing to pay their debts, which has resulted in the eThekwini Municipality cutting off their power supply.

Anyone found to be involved in abusing school funds must be held accountable, as the non-payment of debts is clearly having a negative impact on learners’ futures.

We call for an urgent meeting with relevant stakeholders at Sukuma Comprehensive High School to end the impasse.                                                            


Issued by IFP KZN Provincial Spokesperson for Education Thembeni Madlopha Mthethwa