‘Understanding’ draws backlash

MBABANE – The phrase ‘we had an understanding’ almost landed Mbukwane SDA Head teacher, David Ndlovu, in trouble.

This was after the PAC had learned that a total of E18 500 had been paid by the school to individuals instead of companies.

Ndlovu said because they were a small school they could not afford to pay the registered businesses a lot of money and, therefore, got the services of locals who traded as individuals and they were able to pay them.

“We work with people who understand our financial situation and we have an understanding with them,” said Ndlovu.

Delayed

He said this was because in some instances they would allow the school to pay its suppliers at a later date, especially since money from government in the form of the free primary education fees were usually delayed.

However, the PAC in particular the Chairperson, who is also Gege MP, Musa Kunene, said they did not encourage this ‘understanding’ as it sometimes allowed these individual suppliers to claim more from the initial charge.

He said many boot businesses were dodging government of taxes as they did not remit the money yet in some instances they were paid amounts as high as E60 000.

Ndlovu then unreservedly apologised for using the word understanding, stating that it was not meant in the context which the PAC had viewed it.