The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is concerned that political interference at Loeriesfontein Primary School is attempting to manipulate the make-up of the School Governing Body (SGB), in an effort to keep it aligned to the ruling party.
This comes after the district head of education apparently called for a re-election of the SGB because the names of nominated parents, whose children are enrolled at the school, apparently didn’t appear on the voters’ roll.
Gazetted regulations, however, clearly state that every parent who has a child registered at the school is eligible to vote. The fact that a voters’ roll is not complete therefore does not halt the process because the parent of a registered learner can merely bring proof that the child is theirs and that the child is registered at the school, as per the latest gazette.
The DA believes that it is not a coincidence that the nominated parents, whose names are apparently not on the voters’ roll, are not ANC members.
The calls for a re-election, due to an incomplete voter’s roll, is merely a ploy to keep the SGB under the control of ANC members and to give a key political contender, who arrived late for the election with a truckload of supporters, the opportunity to reclaim her place on the SGB.
It is unacceptable that SGBs, and thereby education, is being politicised.
Given the seriousness of the allegations, the matter will be handed over to DA provincial spokesperson of Education, Priscilla Isaacs. She recently requested for an investigation by the Public Service Commission (PSC) into the alleged political interference by high-ranking ANC officials into the current round of school governing body elections in the Northern Cape. Isaacs will submit information relating to the above to the PSC as well, for the PSC to include in their investigation.
SGBs are meant to ensure that schools are governed in the best interests of all the stakeholders, not of certain political parties. All SGB members must also always put the best interests of the school before any personal interests, and therefore political affiliations.