Noluvu Ludidi
The community of Middelpos is outraged over the return of Bathandwa Mququ to Middelpos Primary School as its finance clerk. Parents and community members gathered outside the school earlier this week demanding to know the basis for her return in light of a pending criminal investigation against her.
Residents and parents of learners at the school say Mququ should not work with finances after investing in a stokvel with her and having never seen a cent.
In December she was arrested for perjury and appeared in the Vredenburg Magistrates’ Court after claiming to have been robbed of R1 million in stokvel money.
Initially denied bail, Mququ appealed successfully and a bail of R50 000 was granted by the High Court, and she returned to school on Monday 12 May pending the hearing of her case.
According to one resident the community demands to know how Mququ is allowed back at work, still receiving a salary after an absence of many months. “We are concerned for the well-being of our children. We want to know how she can be allowed to work with money when she is still under such investigation. The law is failing us.”
Another parent who also invested in the stokvel with Mququ said the decision of her return was not wise, especially that of allowing her to resume her duties as financial clerk, in light of the case against her.
On enquiry, Western Cape Education Department (WCED) spokesperson Bronagh Hammond said the criminal case was unrelated to the school.
“The WCED therefore cannot charge the official. Regarding her absenteeism, it was the result of incarceration. Therefore, there are no grounds to charge her for abscondment, as she was incarcerated. We also cannot prevent her from returning to work.”
The court case has been postponed to 15 August for further investigation.
