Picture (Facebook): Beleaguered Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School principal, Edwin Teach Kgonothi suspended 

BY BAKANG MOKOTO

NORTH West education and sport development department has finally suspended a principal at Onkgopotse Tiro Comprehensive School in Zeerust. Edwin Teach Kgonothi faces a slew of graft charges.

The department spokesman, Freddy Sepeng said Kgonothi was implicated in mismanagement of funds.

Kgonothi was initially slapped with 13 charges of fraud and corruption. Some of the charges emanated from alleged submission of falsified quotations. In one instance, Kgonothi is said to have concocted a quotation of R92 430 directed to the school.

The quotation was designed as if it was sourced and submitted by KC Chemicals Company.

The department also alleged that Kgonothi submitted another false quotation to the amount of R114 130 to his school, pretending that the submission was from LKAB Company.

He was also charged for failure to execute functions and responsibilities of his duty as the principal.

Kgonothi allegedly approved and paid travel or transport claims of the School Governing Body members and educators in the amount of R103 775 for 2013/2014 without the necessary or required documents attached to each of the claims submitted. Moreover, the principal faces close to R1m in moneys not properly accounted for.

The department said he allegedly pleaded guilty to three charges mounting to R330 000 and reached an undisclosed agreement with the North West Education and Sport Development department.

However, Kgonothi felt that the sanction was biased and added that he signed the agreement under duress.

North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Education and Sports, Arts, Culture and Traditional Affairs Chairperson, Oageng Molapisi said they held a meeting with the department on 26 April 2017. Molapisi further said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the outstanding disciplinary cases in the department and the challenges the department is facing in finalising such cases.

“The case against Kgonothi started in 2012 where there was investigation against him for mismanagement of school funds. It was alleged that Kgonothi used some of the school money for his personal benefit. In 2014, there was a precautionary suspension against him, and the department appointed a forensic team to do investigations.

“The team came with the same conclusion that Kgonothi was guilty and must be charged. It was agreed that Kgonothi must be removed as the principal and be placed at the department to work there. The department failed to implement the recommendation,” Molapisi said.

He further said an instruction was given by Court on 2 February 2017 for the department to conduct a disciplinary hearing against Kgonothi. Molapisi added that the department took a decision to outsource the Public Protector and Labour Relations from Gauteng Province in order for the case to get a fair trial.

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