Two former school officials were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly stealing over R500k in school funds meant for the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP).
Mary Ntombi Mielies, 36, and Masilonyana Kenneth Selebalo, 51, appeared in the Leeudoringstad Magistrate’s Court on the same day, where they faced 88 counts of theft before being released. Their case has been postponed to January 24, 2025, for a Regional Court hearing.
School Officials Steal R500k In School Funds Meant For Nutrition Programme
The arrests followed an investigation by the Hawks, which uncovered that Mielies, the former School Governing Body (SGB) treasurer at Thakadu Primary School in Tlokweng, transferred more than R350,000 from the school’s bank account into her personal account. A further investigation revealed that Mielies sent over R174,000 from her own account to Selebalo, a former administrative clerk at the same school.
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The scheme came to light in February 2023 when a service provider complained to the school about not receiving full payment after delivering groceries for the NSNP. The funds were part of the money allocated by the North West Department of Education to ensure students received nutritious meals.
Hawks officials detailed the roles of the accused to IOL:
“Their duties included ensuring that service providers are paid for the delivery of groceries.”
However, the funds were instead siphoned into personal accounts over a two-year period, between 2021 and 2023.
Hawks Speak On The Arrest
Brigadier Silas Munzhedzi, acting North West Provincial Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, praised the investigative team for their efforts. He was joined by North West Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Rachel Makhari, who also commended the prosecutorial team, saying,
“The investigation has ensured that the accused are brought to book.”
The arrests and pending trial have raised concerns about the management of funds within the education system. If convicted, Mielies and Selebalo could face lengthy prison sentences for their roles in the alleged theft.