A Mpumalanga Department of Education commission of inquiry has called for tough action against Simon Mkhatshwa, owner of Cefups Academy in Nelspruit. He is charged with the continued practice of corporal punishment, gross violations of human rights and beating pupils, teachers and the principal with a sjambok.
The commission made its preliminary report to Tim Mashinini, the provincial head of the Department of Education in Mpumalanga last month.
Pat Zwane, provincial education representative, confirmed the findings of the commission. Mashinini is expected to forward the recommendations to Eric Nkabinde,the South African Police Services provincial commissioner.
Zwane did not say what action would be taken against Mkhatshwa, who faces prosecution, charges of tax evasion and unfair labour practice.
“Whatever the decision taken by the department against the school or Mkhatshwa, there is no way that the institution will face closure. At the end of the day the decision would be education friendly, so that kids would continue learning,” said Zwane.
Students from Cefups Academy, a boarding institution with 600 learners, marched to the Mpumalanga provincial legislature last month, demanding that the department investigate the continued practice of corporal punishment at the school. The pupils’ memorandum also mentioned inadequate ablution and hostel facilities.
Students pay R18 500 per year to attend the school, where they bath in a cold stream outside the building. Inside, there is no dining hall, kitchen or proper accommodation. More than 10 students sleep in one room and there are no beds.
The school has abnormal hours. It starts at 8am and continues until 5pm, there is a break of an hour, and then classes resume at 6pm until 10pm. Saturday is a normal school day from 8am to 1pm. Learners are forced to pay for and attend school trips and are also compelled to attend church services on Sundays.
Mkhatshwa practices corporal punishment even though the national Department of Education abolished it seven years ago. He also has a history of violent behaviour. He allegedly attacked his wife at church with a sjambok and evicted his son from his home last year because the boy warned him not to abuse his mother. Mkhatshwa allegedly shot his daughter’s boyfriend to end the relationship.
In 1992 Lindiwe Maphanga, then a teacher at Cefups Academy, was forced to resign from school because Mkhatshwa verbally abused and beat her with a sjambok.
Colbert Kouatcho, a former principal resigned from the school last month after he was beaten by Mkhatshwa with a sjambok.
Mkhatshwa is known as an extravagant man. Almost every month he visits Europe. He drives luxury German cars, while teachers at the school have no medical aid, receive no bonuses and the highest-paid educator gets less than R3 000 a month.
Mkhatshwa accused teachers of plotting against him because he is a successful person. He claimed that his school instils discipline in the students.
A Cefups teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Mkhatshwa is stubborn and autocratic. He told us that even Nelson Mandela cannot tell him how to run his school.”
— The Teacher/M&G Media, Johannesburg, July 2001.