An unknown person, who claimed to be representing Mpolonjeni Anglican Primary School, vanished with two fridges worth E61 991.
This is in respect of a query on non-verification of items delivered to various schools worth over E185 000, including desktops, stoves and fridges.
The office of the auditor general shared that the two fridges were delivered at the school, but the headteacher did not know about the delivery when they inquired about it.
It was also mentioned that a desktop worth E28 500 was delivered at Lavundlamanti High School, but, the headteacher later confirmed receiving the item.
Somntongo MP Sandile Nxumalo raised concerns on government property if it is sometimes received by unknown persons claiming to be representing a government institution.
He questioned the procedure that is followed for one to collect an item on behalf of a government institution, citing that if there were discrepancies on that procedure, then one wonders how safe government property was.
Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary Naniki Mnisi clarified to the PAC that she had letters from the schools’ headteachers confirming that they received the items.
However, she revealed that the case of Mpolonjeni Primary was isolated in that an unknown person received the items on behalf of the school, hence they did not reach its destination. The question was how this person acquired the requisition that one submits before being handed the items.
Kubuta MP Masiphula Mamba raised concerns on the costs of the fridges, stating that normally, an expensive fridge is priced at average E15 000 but these were double that average price and he wanted to know the pricing criterion used.
“It’s a separate issue whether they were delivered or not but I am concerned about the prices, why are they costing a whopping E61 000 when a pricey fridge costs an average E15 000,” he submitted.
One of the ministry’s officers said there was progress in locating the government items as the unknown person was now known to the ministry and investigations were continuing.
