Parents at Seatides Combined School in South Africa are demanding a meeting with the school governing body over alleged financial irregularities, unpaid staff deductions, and the use of school funds. The Concerned Parents Group claims that repeated requests for a meeting have gone unanswered despite concerns about the school's financial position and the potential impact on pupils. Their concerns centre on alleged spending by the school, the reported R9 million balance at the beginning of 2025, and claims that Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) contributions and Pay As You Earn (PAYE) deductions for SGB-employed teachers had not been paid over for several years.
Rajen Pillay, a Seatides community activist brought in by the Concerned Parents Group, said the lack of transparency and accountability surrounding the school's finances had become a major source of concern. Pillay stated that parents wanted a general meeting where the SGB could explain expenditure which had allegedly fallen outside the approved budget. He asked, "As per the audited financial statement, there was R9 million on their books at the beginning of 2025. What was spent from here and how much is left?"
According to Pillay, the parents first requested a meeting in September 2025 and then in March 2026. When those requests allegedly failed to secure a meeting, parents staged a protest in June. The protest was followed by the suspension of the principal. However, Pillay claimed that despite the suspension, parents had still not received satisfactory answers or confirmation of when the requested meeting would take place.
Pillay alleged that the SGB chairperson had sent a letter to the Concerned Parents Group suggesting that only two parents had raised questions about the school's finances. He said a parent started an online petition to establish whether other parents wanted the meeting to proceed. 109 parents participated online, and 104 of them said they wanted the meeting and answers. Pillay said a meeting was subsequently announced but cancelled days later, with the school citing inclement weather.
In addition to questions about the school's finances, parents have raised concerns about the alleged non-payment of UIF contributions and PAYE for the SGB-employed teachers. Pillay claimed teachers had raised the issue with the SGB after discovering that their deductions had allegedly not been paid for several years. He asked, "Teachers complained to the SGB four months. What has happened to the deductions that should have been paid over to SARS?"
Arlene Cairncross, a parent representative, said parents had followed the appropriate procedures in seeking an urgent meeting with the SGB and the school management team. She said the repeated delays had left parents uncertain about when their concerns would be addressed. Cairncross stressed that the dispute should not be viewed as a personal conflict but as an issue affecting the wider school community.
Vee Gani, chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Parents Association, criticised the Department of Education's handling of the matter, saying parents had been waiting too long for answers. Gani said concerns about the school's finances had been raised about a year ago, but the investigation had allegedly only begun months later. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education had not responded at publication, and the SGB declined to comment.
Key points
- The school's financial position and alleged mismanagement have raised concerns among parents about the potential impact on pupils and the school's academic excellence.
- Parents have been seeking a meeting with the SGB to address their concerns, but have been met with delays and cancellations.
- The Department of Education's handling of the matter has been criticised by the KwaZulu-Natal Parents Association, who say parents have been waiting too long for answers.
