Delmas– The school governing body (SGB) at Sundra High School took an unorthodox decision, blocking out learners from attending classes in an attempt to expose financial mismanagement, collapsing infrastructure, unpaid service providers and a lack of support from the local education authorities.
The SGB alleges that the Victor Khanye department of education circuit manager, Lihle Ngwenya, has repeatedly failed to address these issues despite trying out on several occasions.
When they dismissed classes on 01 August 2025, they hoped this would force education officials to address their concerns.
“The school’s finances were in a mess. Money was misused, the feeding scheme was being looted by staff and learners were suffering. I was hated for locking the storeroom to protect food meant for our children,” alleges Emma Nyathela, the school’s SGB treasurer.
Nyathela told Highveld Chronicle that the SGB is being targeted for speaking out against corruption and mismanagement.
Nyathela claims the school is still facing serious debts amounting to over R150,000 for unpaid services such as gas, cleaning materials and printing supplies. “Service providers are calling me nonstop. I will only step down once every cent is paid,” she said.
The Highveld Chronicle has learnt that Sundra High– with 735 learner population– only has two toilets, one of which is functional for girls, no electricity and broken windows. For demanding accountability about the disappearance of R6 million that was allegedly meant for renovations, Nyathela says. “We received letters from the circuit manager telling us we’ve been dismissed.”
Deputy Chairperson Nokhula Mahlangu-Mthibe said they were left with no option but to shut down the school gates. “We’ve asked repeatedly for cleaners and the security guard to be paid, but nothing is being done. The circuit manager told us she would come to the school and engage with us. She didn’t show up,” Mahlangu said.
Mahlangu-Mthibe said the SGB also asked about the school development fund of R200,000 that went missing in January 2024.
“Every time we raise issues, we’re dismissed. She doesn’t want us to hire anyone, even if we pay from our own pockets. It’s as if she doesn’t want this school to improve.”
The parents also managed to fundraise about R124,500 for the 2025 Grade 12 camp. However, the SGB claims that these funds have disappeared despite mining company Exxaro having ultimately paid for the costs of the camp.
“Where did that money go? The SGB has asked, but they’re being stonewalled,” said one parent, Sbongile Mahlangu, adding that the SGB is doing the right thing and should not have been summarily dismissed for demanding accountability.
Highveld Chronicle sent a list of questions regarding the allegations from the SGB to the Mpumalanga Department of Education.
In response, spokesperson Gerald Sambo said: “Although the department was not aware of the matter at this level, we are taking the issues raised seriously and will institute an investigation to establish the facts and ensure that corrective measures are taken to address the challenges.”
While Sambo claims that the department is not aware of the matter, the Highveld Chronicle has seen a letter dated 04 July 2025 from the Mpumalanga acting head of education, Chukudu Manyabeane, disbanding the entire SGB “with immediate effect due to failure of undertaking their responsibilities leading to their dysfunctionality.”
Manyabeane said, in the letter, the SGB had failed to develop school policies and SGB constitution, inability to have a budget as adopted by parents, act of dishonesty demonstrated by selling of scrap material and depositing funds into personal accounts of members, unnecessary travel claims for visiting school without purpose and demanding to be reimbursed, failing to exercise reasonable care and protection of school property, failing to support the principal and educators and the staff in the performance of their professional functions.
“Financial Directives are not followed by the school, there is no adopted budget for 2024 and the current year,” Manyabeane said in the letter.
He added that this negligence has led to the depletion of funds for the school and that “when the school is procuring or conducting payments, they do not follow procedures stipulated in the Provincial Financial Directives and SASA 84 of 1996 Sec 27…”
Despite receiving formal notices of dismissal from Manyabeane, both Nyathela and Mahlangu insist they will not back down until the school’s financial issues are addressed and accountability is enforced.
“We’ve served the school for three years. We won’t leave quietly while corruption continues and learners suffer,” Nyathela said.
Questions regarding the allegations were sent to Circuit Manager Ngwenya for comment, but she referred the publication to the Nkangala District Department of Education. We sent questions to the District and made several calls, but we received no response at the time of print.
