The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Sunday News Reporter
THE case of a mother who was appealing for funds to pay school fees for her son who aced his Grade Seven examinations has taken a dramatic twist, amid allegations that she has been using the child to run a mini-scam that saw her raise an undisclosed sum of money.
Last week, Sunday News carried a story where Ms Sithembiso Masuku was appealing for funds to help her pay fees for her son — Mbongeni — who had got four units at Grade Seven. She had alleged that Mbongeni’s former school — Mawaba — was holding on to the results over a debt of $442.
However, investigations by Sunday News have revealed that not only did Mawaba Primary School officials release the results but Miss Masuku allegedly rejected two bursaries that would have seen Mbongeni’s fees paid for in full for his secondary education.
Ms Masuku also allegedly rejected a job offer to be part of council’s community sweeping groups, claiming she did not know her identity number, which was a prerequisite for her to register for the scheme. She was going to receive $200 a month if she had accepted.
Officials, however, revealed that when she was later asked to append her signature and identity particulars to reject one of the bursaries offered, she did so without hesitation. Investigations further revealed that Ms Masuku was working together with one of her neighbours, to raise funds using Mbongeni’s name.
Questioned about these allegations Ms Masuku confirmed that she had been lying all along as Mawaba had not at any point held on to Mbongeni’s results. She further confirmed that she rejected an offer for her child to be under the Mayor’s Cheer Fund Bursary.
“I went to Mawaba and asked them to write me a letter (which was carried in this publication) confirming that Mbongeni was owing the school because someone had promised to help me pay for his fees but wanted proof of the debt, but they did not withhold the results. The reason why I turned down the mayor’s bursary is because it was going to send Mbongeni to Sikhulile High School yet he wanted to learn at Masotsha,” she said.
Questioned on who paid Mbongeni’s dues at Mawaba and who was going to pay for his fees at Masotsha and buy him uniforms as it came to light that Mbongeni was already attending school at Masotsha, Ms Masuku failed to respond to those questions.
It also came to Sunday News’ attention that there is already a Facebook page that was created by people who were donating money to the boy’s mother. However, Ms Masuku failed to account for the money she had been receiving from people.
“I do not know about a Facebook page but someone called me from England and said they wanted to help me pay for Mbongeni’s fees, I have received part of the money but the rest I am still to receive it,” she alleged.
Sunday News also contacted a Tshengi, whose mobile phone had been provided as Ms Masuku’s contact details as she had no phone. Tshengi became emotional saying she no longer wanted to deal with the issue.
“We are tired of talking to people from the Press, you should stop calling my phone, we have nothing to say to you, we don’t need your help, so please leave us alone,” said Tshengi.
Mawaba Primary School Development Council chairperson Mr Nkosana Mazibisa had no kind words for Ms Masuku saying it was unfortunate that now Mbongeni was being caught up in an unnecessary web of lies.
“Ms Masuku was using her son to get money from people, it is so sad how people use desperate situations for their own greed. We tried so hard to get Mbongeni that bursary, when he refused to go to Sikhulile we also tried to get him a bursary from the Magwegwe zone only to find out that he was already learning and it was only a scam, we had to give away that bursary to another child who really needed it.
“We even offered Ms Masuku a job to which she refused to sign the papers claiming she didn’t know her identity details, she even ran away from us on Monday when we were having a meeting with her and the school authorities from Mawaba,” said Mr Mazibisa.
