One of the former teachers of KwaNogcoyi Primary School in Nongoma, KZN who allegedly fought with the new principal over stolen funds has a history of turning the community against the school and burning evidence.
Scrolla.Africa has learned that principal Barbie Mbatha Mazeka was investigating that teacher who has since left the school.
He allegedly partnered with another colleague to turn community members against Mbatha Mazeka and they torched school admin offices to bury financial records before burning the home of Mbatha Mazeka.
“That teacher once worked at the Roman Catholic school in Zululand which was St Victors. This is where he was accused of stealing money. During the investigation, he mobilised community members against the school. He then resigned and went to work at KwaNogcoyi where he did the same thing,” said one of the Roman Catholic bishops.
The funds that have disappeared from kwaNogcoyi are estimated to be around R1 million since 2019 which include grass-cutting fees and monies that were meant for school furniture.
Another source revealed that Mbatha Mazeka was hated for her investigation into stolen funds and an alleged irregular appointment as principal.
“After Mbatha Mazeka filed a dispute over the appointment of another teacher as principal, the Department of Education in Vryheid withdrew that appointment and the education authority announced Mbatha Mazeka as the new principal without an open process.
“This is where the hate against Mbatha Mazeka grew because she is seen as the most connected person to higher offices of education. Even her return from early retirement and promotion to be a HOD caused a lot of infighting before this,” another source revealed.
Mbatha Mazeka is also part of Sadtu’s leadership in KZN.
ANC and the South African Teachers Union accused the IFP of being behind the torching of Mbatha Mazeka’s home and KwaNogcoyi primary offices with community members.
This has sparked anger in the IFP. Provincial chair Thami Ntuli said that it is unfortunate that the ANC and Sadtu are playing politics in this critical matter.
He called on education authorities to establish a committee that will investigate the attack on principals in KZN, especially female ones who are always under severe attack.
Nongoma Mayor Albert Mngcwango said that the infighting over positions at KwaNongoma has been there for years and education authorities seem to be failing to address the situation.