A former KwaZulu-Natal primary school principal and the retiring governing body chair allegedly stole over R90,000 in funds to campaign for political positions.
It is not clear whether they were campaigning for the 2019 general election or the 2021 local government elections.
The two, whose names are known to Scrolla.Africa, and their political parties, are at the centre of infighting at kwaNogcoyi Primary School and the subject of a forensic investigation undertaken by the Department of Education.
They are both elected councillors for their respective political parties in one of the Zululand local municipalities. Information with the police, and also in possession of Scrolla.Africa, stated that before the burning of a school admin block and the 10-room house of principal Barbie Mazeka-Mbatha, suspects were looking for a financial report that was in her car.
"In 2019 the two allegedly made transactions in Ulundi which were later found to have funded political campaigns. They were under investigation, which was pushed by Mazeka-Mbatha.
"On 18 May this year, when Mazeka-Mbatha was supposed to assume duty as the new principal, the admin building was burnt down. She then went to school to fetch some of the documents that survived the fire, one of which was the financial report," Scrolla.Africa was told.
After it appeared that the financial report was not destroyed, the house of the principal was petrol bombed, along with her two vehicles.
Last week it was revealed that fortunately the financial report was not burnt, despite a second attempt to destroy it. Actually, Mazeka-Mbatha had already handed it over to the School Governing Body chair, Prince Bonga Zulu.
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Now it appears Zulu is also living in fear, because it is clear this financial report may land people in jail -- especially the two politicians who once served at KwaNogcoyi.
The information given to police as part of their investigation revealed that a forensic report by the Department of Education has been completed for legal action against the suspects.
It emerged that the two suspects allegedly stole other funds -- over R400,000 -- claiming it was to buy school furniture, four grass-cutting machines and to pay for work that was not done, or for which there were no invoices.
Education department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said the matter is with the police.
"The issues of KwaNogcoyi Primary have become sensitive, with the latest developments. Most of the issues have become matters for the police," said Mahlambi.
Zulu couldn't be reached for comments.
Police spokesperson Colonel Rober Netshunda said that the investigation is still underway.
